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Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar

Lisa Hirst Carnes

ArcStone

"I am committed to reducing my carbon footprint and living in harmony with Mother Earth. Through mindful choices, sustainable practices, and continuous learning, I strive to minimize my impact on the planet while inspiring others to do the same. I believe that small, intentional actions—whether in business or daily life—can lead to meaningful change. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 751 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    29
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent learning

Lisa's actions

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

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about plastic waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

UNCOMPLETED
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

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

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Skip the Dryer Sheets

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Swap the Snacks

I will swap 3 prepackaged snacks for unpackaged fruits or veggies or homemade or bulk items each time we need more.

COMPLETED 8
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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Choose Natural Clothing Fibers

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

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

On-the-go

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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?


  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 3/02/2025 7:35 PM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    Thank you to the people behind the Plastic-Free Challenge! I learned a lot and have made some lasting changes.

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/26/2025 4:58 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK

    The Twin Cities Has a Trash Problem. Can We Compost Our Way Out of It? Good article about composting and recycling in the Twin Cities.



  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/25/2025 4:59 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    Fake Spring means taking a quick walk after lunch and picking up garbage on the block. Have a great Tuesday everyone!

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/24/2025 9:57 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    I hosted a small event at my home this weekend, intentionally incorporating the plastic-free challenge into my planning and hosting decisions. Instead of disposable products, I chose reusable options, recycled wrapping paper whenever possible, opted for biodegradable balloons, and passed along decorations afterward for future use. Yay!

    • Krina Damien's avatar
      Krina Damien 2/24/2025 10:58 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      Biodegradable balloons?! I didn't even know that was a thing! I will definitely be looking for those!

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/21/2025 8:46 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    Buying and storing bulk not only tastes better, is better quality, it looks better in the cupboard. Triple win!

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/17/2025 3:34 PM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    We made the switch to toothpaste pellets! No more messy plastic tubes.

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/17/2025 4:53 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    I'm really glad I'm doing this. I've learned a lot and I think I'm changing some habits for good. Yay.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies or homemade or bulk items benefit your household?

    Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/08/2025 6:47 AM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    I was pretty good about not buying prepackaged snacks before, but not I'm making an extra effort to buy bulk or unpackaged fruit/veggies. We swapped out the convenience of buying hard boiled eggs to making our own. (Pure laziness and not planning ahead). Now time to tackle our hummus habit. Same story, easy to make but need to plan ahead.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How difficult (or easy!) has it been for you to cut dryer sheets from your laundry routine?

    Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/05/2025 2:53 PM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    I swapped out Bounce type dryer sheets for 7th Generation several years ago. I'm going to give the dryer balls another shot once I'm done with my current box of 7th Gen sheets.

    • Megan Kelly's avatar
      Megan Kelly 2/28/2025 6:57 AM
      • 4-DAY STREAK
      I use dryer balls but static is still an issue in the winter, and eco sheets didn't seem to work that well on that problem. What worked better was throwing in a crumpled a ball of foil, if anyone else is now battling static! This can scratch/catch on sweaters or delicates, but I've switched to hang drying these + as much as possible anyways (another challenge goal!)

    • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
      Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/06/2025 5:29 AM
      • 19-DAY STREAK
      Looks like it didn't upload the image properly. ECOS brand.

    • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
      Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/06/2025 5:29 AM
      • 19-DAY STREAK
      Yes, I've used the dryer sheets for years. They work well and fit in my small cabinet. I usually use another brand but The Wedge was out. These work well too. The scent is super light and nice, not overpowering.

    • Susan k's avatar
      Susan k 2/05/2025 7:51 PM
      I've been using wool dryer balls for a few years. They work well. Have you tried the laundry detergent sheets?

  • Lisa Hirst Carnes's avatar
    Lisa Hirst Carnes 2/05/2025 2:45 PM
    • 19-DAY STREAK
    This might be a "duh" reflection but putting out there just in case. One simple habit that’s helped me reduce waste is pausing before throwing something away. I take a moment to ask: “Was the waste this created worth it? Can this be composted or recycled? Could I have chosen a more sustainable option, like buying in bulk or different packaging?” That small shift in mindset has been a light bulb moment for me.