Elizabeth Andress

I will continue to clean out my two adopt-a-drains on my block.

I have bookmarked the resources that can be shared with business establishments like restaurants. I plan to share the 5-page Single-Use Plastic Reduction Guide with restaurants that could improve, letting them know that I am not inclined to return as a customer as long as they are using the amount of plastic they currently do.

I will continue to do 2 litter pick ups. It was helpful to read through the guidelines - I have always put everything in the trash, as it's all very soiled, which seems better than wish-cycling. I may bring a small bag for compostables which are easy to identify and light / small to bag separately.

I am obsessive about keeping things out of the waste stream if at all possible. I keep a bag in our closet to collect items for the thrift store and drop it off when it's full. I am not a Facebook user otherwise but am a part of Buy Nothing Golden Valley and regularly post items there (great response to lots of stuff resulting from a major garage clean-out last summer).

Reducing plastics in my wardrobe -
I already DO skip the dryer sheets; I don't dry clean (no dry cleaning bags); and I regularly shop used. My big challenge to self is to choose natural clothing fibers. I don't have time this month to research and set a clear path, but this will be an on-going "move along the spectrum" towards less plastic - more natural in the year ahead.

I'm doing just okay on the challenge. I did it a couple of years ago and made quite a few changes that significantly reduced our plastic use and waster. I'm finding I'm more resistant to the next "level" of things to do - if I'm honest / humble, I can feel lazy - e.g., about figuring out clothing for all seasons that use only natural fibers (I like my fleece and synthetic wick-aways...) or reading about how to do laundry (I just want to do it my same way) or really getting serious about how to reduce contributing to the microplastic problem and reduce consumption of microplastics. So that's my check-in today....

I went out for lunch today. I do keep in my car a container to bring leftovers home, but almost always forget to bring it in. When I asked for a box today, I got a #5 plastic one - at least better than styrofoam. I'm setting a goal of building a habit of carrying in a bag with a carryout reusable box in it whenever we in a restaurant.

We are basketball fans. At MN Lynx games at Target Center, they allow you to bring in a clear empty water bottle, and the Lynx even give members a complimentary one each year. (Though they have no bottle refill stations next to water fountains - I make this request every year to guest services to no avail.)
But at the UofM Williams Arena, for men's and women's basketball games, they disallow all reusable water bottles. Makes me crazy. They have big posters about the good things they do with the recycled plastic bottles - that's not enough. No reason they can't do what Target Center does. Anyone know how to advocate for a change on this policy?

I think we're mostly recycling correctly and avoiding "wish-cycling", esp since the last time we participated in the Challenge. Take-aways for me, from the print Henn. Cty. card on recycling, and the resources here:
- recycle 1, 2, and 5
- no loose caps; afix caps to bottles even if different type of plastic
- do not crush items
- NO black plastic
- rinse and DRY before putting into recycling bin
- okay to leave labels on cans
- put lids back on plastic cups and containers, caps back on cartons
- NO lids on glass containers
I'll discuss these with my spouse and our recycling practices will improve.

I need to (and am reluctant to) learn more about microplastics, how I contribute, their ubiquity, and how to reduce causing them in my own practices.

One change I made last round was to get back into the habit of buying bulk at the food coop. I really love this. I belong to Seward and Wedge coops. I'll often stop at Seward on my way home from church, as it's near there. Sometimes I have a "coop list" but no plans to be near Seward (25 min. from my house), but then look for a coop near someplace else I'm going that week - so I've stopped at the Wedge after a visit to Walker Art Center, and went for the first time to Lakewinds in Minnetonka. And fun encounters - ran into my nephew at Lakewinds; and got to talk with renowned actor Sally Wingert in the bulk section at Seward on Franklin.

I did the plastic-free challenge with EcoClub a few years ago, learned and tried many new things, and quite a few of those have become permanent changes. Glad for that. This round I'm not being as ambitious, but want to "hone" a few things and learn some more that I can pass on to others as well.