Raschell Collyer

I will spend 15 minutes conducting a waste audit- including recyclables and compost- to understand how much plastic waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

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

I will learn about what different descriptions and marketing terms mean when used on plastics.

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

Plastics recycling is real, and it works in the Twin Cities metro area when done correctly. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how to correctly recycle plastics in the Twin Cities and where recycled plastics end up.

I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, acrylic or spandex. Try prioritizing buying used clothing before buying new.

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. 

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

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.