John Shaffer

Maryland Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
706 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

255

pieces of litter

picked up

John's actions

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

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 8
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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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?

John Shaffer 7/24/2022 7:44 PM
Spent the day in the emergency room getting a nasty cut in my hand stitched up and couldn't believe how much plastic waste is generated treating one patient. Does anyone know if the recycle any of it?

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John Shaffer 7/23/2022 8:55 PM
Challenge is not difficult if you're already living the lifestyle. Most things become "regular" practiced behavior and second nature. The difficult part is how modern society has become so packaged and prepackaged. I received something in the mail today that was sealed in a plastic sleeve sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard and sent in a plastic mailer...what was it - an old paper magazine ad - Ridiculous!

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John Shaffer 7/19/2022 8:12 PM
Spent most of the day at home today. Worked in the yard and also went through sport coats no longer needed since retirement. Planning to take same down to a men's shelter in town. Larger sizes are always in need.

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John Shaffer 7/16/2022 8:47 PM
Nice to have the option of the local fruit stand this time of the year. Fresh fruit and vegees with a whole lotta' taste and no packaging!

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John Shaffer 7/14/2022 9:24 PM
Picked up curbside litter over at my son's house before cutting his "natural" lawn. Cut same with a secondhand electric mower (corded) that I purchased in like-new condition. All in all, it was a very green day - reduced/reused by buying/using secondhand, generated no emissions, no batteries, lots of clover and plenty of honey bees!

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John Shaffer 7/14/2022 9:04 PM
Leftovers for meals today - 0 - plastic waste generated/0 - paper waste generated.

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John Shaffer 7/07/2022 8:15 PM
Vegetarian meals only today made fresh from mostly local vegetables purchased from our local family-owned fruit and vegetable stand - no plastic, no packaging, and the zucchini "crab cakes" were delicious!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?
John Shaffer 7/05/2022 7:27 PM
I'd tell them to take a walk around their neighborhood and look at all the packaging waste -mostly plastic - in the streets, adjacent to sidewalks, along the gutters, and in/on/and around the stormdrains.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?
John Shaffer 7/05/2022 7:20 PM
Given the nature of the modern grocery store, I don't believe it's possible to switch to all reusable. At least with this time of year, we are now able to shop at the local fruit and vegetable stands and those purchases involve no single-use packaging but that option will close with the changing of the seasons.

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- Talia Rozenbojm 7/05/2022 7:43 PM
  Start learning how to dry, freeze, ferment, and can foods?? I am working on some of those steps myself.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?
John Shaffer 7/05/2022 7:09 PM
Most every food item in the regular grocery stores are pre-wrapped and involve plastics in their packaging.

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