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Michael Pioggia's avatar

Michael Pioggia

NYPA

"Lead the transition to a carbon-free, economically vibrant New York through customer partnerships, innovative energy solutions, and the responsible supply of affordable, clean, and reliable electricity."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,658 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    community events
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    12
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    320
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    31
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    6.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    122
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Michael's actions

Family

Glass Bottle Baby

I will replace 6 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 10 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for Office Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Use Cloth Diapers

I will replace single use diapers with reusable cloth diapers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Use Reusable Baby Wipes

I will make better choices for the environment and my baby's bum by using reusable baby wipes most or all of the time.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Thoughtful Toys

I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

DIY Cat Litter

I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Proper Bioplastic Disposal

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

A Sustainable Flow

I will make the switch to sustainable, reusable period products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 200 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a Watch Party

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and tupperware-like containers in my children's lunches to reduce plastic waste.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 31
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
    Personal Care A Sustainable Flow
    Disposable tampons and menstrual pads are often quite expensive. What are the economic and personal benefits of this switch for you?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:48 PM
    Some of economic and personal benefits are:  free from chemicals, don't pollute our food chain, safeguards our water(s), and reduce overall health risks.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Proper Bioplastic Disposal
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:39 PM
    My concern is my children and the state of the Earth in years to come.  When reflecting on my actions, I always keep this quote in mind ... "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets DIY Cat Litter
    Other species can teach us important lessons about ourselves and life in general. What has your cat taught you?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:37 PM
    Our cat has taught us how to consistently wake up at the same time each morning ... great during the school year; not so much during summer break.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care That Was a Close Shave
    What have you noticed about the economic and social impact of switching to steel razors? Was there ever really a need for disposable razors, or do you think it was just a way to sell more things?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:34 PM
    In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 2 billion razors and refill blades get tossed out in the U.S. each year.  The bulk of a disposable razor is non-biodegradable, leading to billions of pieces of hazardous waste ending up in landfills every year.  Yes, I think it was a way to sell more things.  Moreover, shaving with a straight razor is a lost art.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate for Office Reusables
    What are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:32 PM
    Reusables can be branded with company logos and would great way to lead by example; especially when external clients come over for luncheons.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining
    What was your strategy in talking with your favorite restaurant's management? Did you find it to be effective?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:29 PM
    Back when, Bruegger's Bagels has a refillable coffee mug program that seemed effective.   I continually advocate for that program approach to Dunkin' Donuts and Starbuck whenever I am in their establishments but sadly none have adopted it.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Thoughtful Toys
    Does your child play differently with natural or repurposed toys than with other toys? If so, how?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:25 PM
    Yes they play differently and the durability of some natural toys, like Melissa and Doug, will last generations vs. the plastic throw-aways.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Use Reusable Baby Wipes
    In what ways do you model choices that align with your values to your little one? In what other ways could you model values-aligned choices?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:22 PM
    Children mimic their parents regardless of activities, choices or actions.    Being mindful that they are always watching and learning from you should keep your activities, choices and actions well-aligned with your child's.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Use Cloth Diapers
    In what ways is diapering your child with cloth diapers better for your child, better for you, and better for the environment?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:18 PM
    This topic rages debate in many households but overall cloth diapering has been determined to be better for the environment even though cloth diapers use electricity, water and raw materials to manufacture.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Glass Bottle Baby
    How can you take your commitment to sustainable living beyond yourself and your family? How can you, personally, work toward broader change?

    Michael Pioggia's avatar
    Michael Pioggia 7/31/2022 8:10 PM
    I consider my commitment a daily routine as I push for sustainability in all the projects I implement at NYPA.