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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
Duffy Larsen-Abramson's avatar

Duffy Larsen-Abramson

Excelsior Methodists Punt Plastics

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 81 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    28
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    6.0
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.6
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastic bottle
    not sent to the landfill

Duffy's actions

At Home

Shop Used

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

On-the-go

Use Reusable Water Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

On-the-go

Skip the Straw

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

On-the-go

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 pieces of plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Plan a Garden

I will plan an herb or vegetable garden for next year at my home, workplace, or community garden.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

  • 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?
    Duffy Larsen-Abramson's avatar
    Duffy Larsen-Abramson 2/22/2025 8:49 AM
    I still feel bad reusing a plastic bag for trash. Problem is some compostable trash bags are flimsy and leak/break. I found that My Eco World bags from COSTCO are tough enough! I have to order them on line though, or go to the SLP Costco.
    Read More
    • Margaret King's avatar
      Margaret King 2/22/2025 9:13 AM
      We wound up double-bagging the green compostable trash bags. That worked. Things like, say, the cut-off top of a pineapple we put into a paper bag and compost.

      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    On-the-go
    How can you be an advocate for using resusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable cutlery, and how can you convince them of the need for change?
    Duffy Larsen-Abramson's avatar
    Duffy Larsen-Abramson 2/22/2025 8:43 AM
    Talk about it. I bring at take home container when I go out, and I'm not shy about using it.
    Also if I forget and am offered a plastic non-recyclable container, I refuse it and explain why.
    O also carry a spork in my purse.
    Read More
  • Duffy Larsen-Abramson's avatar
    Duffy Larsen-Abramson 2/05/2025 9:39 AM
    I've already been doing a lot of these steps but I'm newly making much more effort to compost soiled tissues and low grade cardboard like egg cartons and toilet paper cardboard rolls.
    we just had 2 dead trees felled and I had the arborist leave the wood chips so I avoid at least 20 plastic bags of mulch this Spring
    Read More