Abby Steijlen

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

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.

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

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

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.

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

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

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

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 30 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

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.

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

Watch film "Smog of the Sea" to learn more about the impact of plastic in our oceans. Be inspired by the unique crew and see that anyone can make a difference.

I will visit the rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

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

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.