Tracy Erdman
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 232 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO115zero-waste mealsconsumed
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UP TO48pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO2.2poundswaste avoided
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UP TO8.3poundspackaging waste avoided
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UP TO17poundswaste recycled
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UP TO110minutesspent learning
Tracy's actions
Plastics 101
Recycle Plastic Bags
Instead of trashing them, I will recycle 4 plastic bags per day bringing them to a drop-off or special pickup
Plastics 101
Recycle Plastic Caps
I will recycle 2 plastic caps per day by placing them back on the plastic bottles before placing them in my recycling bin.
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.
Food
Swap the Snacks
I will swap 5 prepackaged snacks for unpackaged fruits or veggies or homemade or bulk items each time we need more.
Food
Buy Unpackaged Produce
I will avoid 5 plastic bags each shopping trip by not bagging my produce or using reusable produce bags.
At Home
Extend the Life of Electronics
Manufacturers want you to replace your phones every year. I will keep my phone for at least 3 years and make any necessary repairs or updates to keep it functioning as long as possible.
At Home
REUSE TRASH BAGS BEFORE PURCHASING NEW
I will reuse existing bags such as pet food bags, grocery bags, or online shopping bags to line my trash bins (or go without plastic liners) and offset using as many new bags as possible.
At Home
Ditch the Disposable Cleaning Wipes
I will replace my disposable cleaning wipes with a reusable brush or cloth.
At Home
Skip the Dryer Sheets
I will replace dryer sheets with a reusable alternative or use nothing at all.
At Home
Plan a Garden
I will plan an herb or vegetable garden for next year at my home, workplace, or community garden.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAt HomeBesides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?
Tracy Erdman 2/18/2026 11:11 AMit would drastically drop down my grocery bill during the months the garden was producing. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt HomeHow difficult (or easy!) has it been for you to cut dryer sheets from your laundry routine?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAt HomeHow have you modified your cleaning routine to make sure you aren't using disposable wipes? Are you satisfied with the results?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAt HomeWhat are some of the challenges or benefits you have experienced using reused bags instead of a bag purposely designed to hold trash?
Tracy Erdman 2/18/2026 11:09 AMI moved away from bags all together and just wash my trash can each time I empty it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt HomeWhat maintenance steps do you take to keep your electronics in good working order?
Tracy Erdman 2/18/2026 11:08 AMI make sure to wipe them down weekly to keep them as dust free as possible. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPlastics 101What are some things you can do to avoid using plastic bottles and plastic caps in the first place?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPlastics 101Has separating your plastic bags for recycling helped you identify how you might reduce how many you have? What are you doing differently now?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhy do you think these products have so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?
Tracy Erdman 2/18/2026 11:05 AMI don't think it is serving anyone.-
Margo Ashmore 2/18/2026 6:20 PMIt's all about shelf space dominance, protecting products during shipping, and the marketing that can be designed into all that packaging. Also, I suppose, blister packs help avoid someone buying something for one use and then wanting to return it as if they haven't used it at all. So I'd say the producers or middle-men benefit. This is why Buy Nothing has become so popular - if you try a product and don't like it, pass it on to someone else who can try it, maybe they'll like it...without all that packaging.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies or homemade or bulk items benefit your household?