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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, 2026
Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar

Amirsalar Firouzeh

Normandale Environmental Chemistry

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 176 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    30
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    11
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.5
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • UP TO
    3.4
    pounds
    packaging waste avoided
  • UP TO
    50
    minutes
    spent learning

Amirsalar's actions

At Home

Ditch the Disposable Cleaning Wipes

I will replace my disposable cleaning wipes with a reusable brush or cloth.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Skip the Dryer Sheets

I will replace dryer sheets with a reusable alternative or use nothing at all.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Shop Used

I will buy secondhand goods to reduce the demand for new plastic products and avoid packaging.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Cook Meals with Zero Plastic Waste

I will prepare 5 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 6
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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will avoid 20 plastic bags each shopping trip by not bagging my produce or using reusable produce bags.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Why do you think these products have so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:37 AM
    From my perspective, because they want to advertise the products and sell more, they use so much plastic packaging. I believe someone else.
    Read More
    • Abiha Juwairiya's avatar
      Abiha Juwairiya 2/06/2026 12:00 PM
      I agree with you. I think a lot of plastic packaging is used to make products look more appealing and help them sell better, so it mainly serves the producer. While packaging can help protect food, excessive plastic seems more about marketing and convenience for companies than what the consumer actually needs.
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    What kinds of items have been easy for you to find used? What has been hard?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:32 AM
    Because I buy many thing from facebook market, its easy to find most of the products that I was looking for which save a lot.
    Read More
    • Jessy Idiarte's avatar
      Jessy Idiarte 2/06/2026 11:07 AM
      Hi Amirsalar! I completely agree with you about Facebook market and second had items, they do save you a lot of money, and there is plenty of choices out there. I also like to go to goodwill from time to time if I need anything for my kitchen, that is my favorite section!
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    What are some of the challenges or benefits you have experienced using reused bags instead of a bag purposely designed to hold trash?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:24 AM
    In my opinion, the most important thing is that you do not waste your money and time to go buy trash bags. Plus, it is good because instead of throwing plastic bags, we reuse it for holding trash.
    Read More
  • Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:20 AM
    It's going well. I really enjoy reading the emails and making my own foods.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:16 AM
    Because I always make my own food, It is really joyful. The benefits are more healthier, knowing what you are making, and recording calorie.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How difficult (or easy!) has it been for you to cut dryer sheets from your laundry routine?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:05 AM
    It's very easy to be honest because I just take laundry and hang them where they can receive heat from furnace.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How have you modified your cleaning routine to make sure you aren't using disposable wipes? Are you satisfied with the results?
    Amirsalar Firouzeh's avatar
    Amirsalar Firouzeh 2/06/2026 10:03 AM
    I have modified my routine by using my old clothes, which I wanted to throw. And I wash them every time I use them, so it helps to stay clean. It is really helpful because I do not waste money to buy disposable wipes.
    Read More