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Welcome to Plastic-Free Challenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic-Free Challenge expert in no time!

Hennepin County | Ramsey County | Washington County
Plastic-Free Challenge
February 1 - February 28, 2025
Jacqueline Colby's avatar

Jacqueline Colby

Excelsior Methodists Punt Plastics

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 602 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.8
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.7
    pounds
    waste recycled
  • UP TO
    3.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    100
    minutes
    spent learning

Jacqueline's actions

On-the-go

Visit a packaging-free store

I will visit a co-op or zero waste store to check out my local options for bulk products and plastic-free items.

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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Plastics 101

Estimate Your Plastic Footprint

I will complete a plastic consumption calculator to learn about my plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Know the Numbers

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn more about what the symbols on plastics mean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Stop "wishcycling"

Contamination makes the recycling process more difficult. I will review which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my county and recycle only those items. 

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Avoid Harmful Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polyvinyl, polystyrene and polycarbonate (#3,#6 and #7).

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook Meals with Zero Plastic Waste

I will prepare 1 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Choose sustainable suds

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with solid bars or refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Recycle Plastic Caps

I will recycle 1 plastic caps per day by placing them back on the plastic bottles before placing them in my recycling bin.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • Jacqueline Colby's avatar
    Jacqueline Colby 2/28/2025 12:42 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 16-DAY STREAK
    Thanks for making this resource available. My efforts to reduce my plastic use will continue!
    Read More
  • 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 low-waste or reusable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable? Are there any items where it would be difficult to avoid plastic waste?
    Jacqueline Colby's avatar
    Jacqueline Colby 2/18/2025 12:08 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 16-DAY STREAK
    I have decided it is pretty much impossible to buy meat without plastic packaging. I need to find more more tasty meatless recipes.
    Read More
  • Jacqueline Colby's avatar
    Jacqueline Colby 2/14/2025 12:27 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 16-DAY STREAK
    Go Excelsior Methodists Punt Plastics! We are currently in 22nd place among the 238 teams participating in the plastic challenge! Not bad at all! Keep checking in on the challenge site as often as you can, and more importantly, keep learning about how to reduce your use of plastic.
    Read More
  • Jacqueline Colby's avatar
    Jacqueline Colby 1/15/2025 12:56 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 16-DAY STREAK

    Our team is ready to start!
    Read More