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Megan Carlson's avatar

Megan Carlson

Washington County Staff

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 454 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    8.4
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    23
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    14
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.4
    pounds
    packaging waste avoided
  • UP TO
    7.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    24
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    55
    minutes
    spent learning

Megan's actions

On-the-go

Use A Reusable Mug or Cup

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own collapsible cup.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my low-waste actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kids

Provide Alternatives

I will provide daily plastic-free alternatives (straws, water bottles, cutlery, bar soap, bamboo toothbrushes, etc.) for my family to use.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Make Your Own

I will try a new recipe or food preparation method, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

On-the-go

Refill travel toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me 

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Switch to compostable floss

I will switch to compostable floss in a reusable container.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Plastic-Free Caffeine Routine

I will cut single-use plastics out of my morning drink by switching to reusable coffee pods, tea infusers, and bulk beans or tea leaves.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Read Plastic-Free Challenge emails

I will read through the three emails each week to learn more about plastic and get ideas on how to use less.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Swap Sponges for Longer Lasting Reusable Options

I will ditch the sponge and use a reusable or compostable option such as a brush, scrubber or dishrag instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    Flossing is a hard habit to maintain for a lot of people! Does making your flossing routine more sustainable give you motivation to keep up this notoriously difficult habit?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/25/2025 11:15 AM
    Compostable flossers are in my Amazon cart!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/25/2025 11:15 AM
    I shared an Instagram post of this challenge and encouraged others to join me. I also bragged on FB about our recycling centers around Washington County and how much I've learned about composting!

    • Julie DURR's avatar
      Julie DURR 2/25/2025 1:30 PM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      Using social media is a good tool for asking for ideas, some are good and others not so good.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    What are some benefits you've noticed with your reusable cleaning items?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/25/2025 11:12 AM
    I've switched to Swedish Dish cloths and love them!

    • Julie DURR's avatar
      Julie DURR 2/25/2025 1:32 PM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      I can wash the microfiber cloths and hang dry these items. We can also refill these containers several over and over again.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How has removing your single-use plastics impacted your caffeine routine?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/25/2025 11:11 AM
    This goal has been more awkward than anything, haha! Most coffee shops are not used to someone handing them personal cups. It has made me much more aware, however, and helped me to decide whether the stop is necessary (especially when I forgot a cup).

    • Julie DURR's avatar
      Julie DURR 2/26/2025 5:09 AM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      We use travel mugs, and we no longer buy plastic or Styrofoam cups. We are saving the planet one cup at time.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How do you feel about being more involved in the food preparation process? Joyful, overwhelmed, engaged, empowered? What are the benefits of choosing to process or produce your own food instead of buying it pre-processed?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/11/2025 6:29 AM
    It is really nice to have an incentive to make things fresh (and in bulk for future use)!

  • Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/05/2025 1:29 PM
    I have done a lot of things to move plastic out of our daily life as a family, but this has made me even more aware!

    • Michelle  B's avatar
      Michelle B 2/05/2025 1:31 PM
      • 24-DAY STREAK
      It really is eye opening, isn't it? thanks for all you've done so far
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    On-the-go
    Great job on getting rid of your disposable cup habit! How does it make you feel? Are there any situations where you still struggle to use a reusable mug?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/05/2025 1:28 PM
    I forgot my reusable cup when I decided to stop for coffee. Maybe I need to keep an extra in the car for emergency caffeine visits;)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kids
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) does your household use regularly, and what substitutes are you trying?

    Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/05/2025 1:26 PM
    I now keep collapsible straws in multiple bags (purse, work bag, etc)

  • Megan Carlson's avatar
    Megan Carlson 2/05/2025 1:24 PM
    I made protein cookies instead of grabbing a protein bar!