Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2022

July 1 - July 31, 2022

Carl Myers

L.A. Zoo - Angeleno Plastic Eliminators (APE)

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,247 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted
UP TO

32

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

140

minutes

spent learning

Carl's actions

Lifestyle

KEEP IT UPCYCLE

Post to our Team APE feed about an item that you "upcycled" or "creatively reused" and thereby avoided consuming plastic associated with buying a new item and having that item sent to you/your area!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Say No to "Flushable Wipes"

Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Homemade Pet Food

I will prepare my own pet food to avoid plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Ditch Dryer Sheets

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Clean Plate Club

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA-approved reusable quart-sized bag.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Plastic Production

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

See the Green

I will recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

How easy was this swap for you? Did you have any concerns before making it?
Carl Myers 7/18/2022 11:09 AM
This was a very easy and attainable goal for me. When I first became a bachelor, I would thrive with Red Solo Cups and styrofoam/paper plates, and plastic cutlery. (Who didn't?!) But that's not sustainable for a lot of reasons beyond our own environmental needs. I prefer hand washing my dishes, anyway. I like to put on a podcast and suds up while catching up on the day's news, TED talks, or cosmic queries with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I implore all of you to take a little time at the sink and wash your dishes instead of using "recyclable" items.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
Carl Myers 7/18/2022 10:56 AM
This was sobering...I really thought that I was pretty sustainable living within my means, but I definitely could be doing a lot better with the number of items I'm purchasing containing single-use plastic. I also was manually collecting recyclables instead of mindfully sorting through plastics, glass, paper, and soiled items; I also learned a lot about composting and how to separate those items out of the trash/recycle area. I still have so much more to learn and reflect on when it comes to the items I have and dispose of. I wish apartment living encouraged recycling, upcycling, and composting on a regular basis.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?
Carl Myers 7/18/2022 10:48 AM
Each week or so, I've been drilling down my grocery order lists to be ONLY items I really needed to sustain myself and my bearded dragon. I used to purchase surplus items for safe-keeping, but so many times, I'll go through my refrigerator, pantry, and cabinets finding expired items I never used. MOST OF WHICH ARE IN PLASTIC PACKAGING. I'm hoping these new habits will help my own carbon footprint.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets

How are caring for your pet and caring for the environment connected for you?
Carl Myers 7/14/2022 4:57 PM
I had no idea that "pooper scoopers" existed for reptiles, but lo-and-behold, my local pet store sold scoopers specifically for bearded dragons! It's made the way I clean his tank and dispose of his "demonic waste" in a biodegradable way that is conscientious of my own environment. If you get a pet that's not a dog or a cat, look around for environmentally friendly waste disposal options from your local pet store -- options exist!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets

Does making your own pet food seem like a habit you can keep up in the long term? What else can you do to reduce your use of plastic packaging that can come from taking care of your pet's needs?
Carl Myers 7/13/2022 9:25 AM
This is something that I currently do for my bearded dragon that I plan on doing more in an even more sustainable way. My beardie, Spike, loves fresh greens, veggies, and berries every morning with his live feed. This is an easy way to provide a fresh and nutritious meal for my lizard.

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