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Sarah Marotz 's avatar

Sarah Marotz

Niron Magnetics

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 924 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    235
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    89
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    60
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    97
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    4.4
    pounds
    packaging waste avoided
  • UP TO
    0.6
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Sarah's actions

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 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Kids

Provide Alternatives

I will provide daily plastic-free alternatives (straws, water bottles, cutlery, bar soap, bamboo toothbrushes, etc.) for my family to use.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Make Green Cleaners

I will make  1 of my own cleaning products (cleaners, detergents, soaps) instead of buying them in new spray bottles each time.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Stop Buying Water

I will stop buying water and instead use water from the tap or invest in a water filter if water quality is a concern.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Ditch the Plastic Wrap

I will ditch plastic wrap and use reusable containers, lids or wraps instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will avoid 5 plastic bags each shopping trip by not bagging my produce or using reusable produce bags.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Kids

Choose alternatives to balloons

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 10 minutes learning about eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

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.

COMPLETED
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
    Plastics 101 Watch a Documentary
    Which documentary did you choose to watch? What did you learn?

    Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/29/2024 5:18 PM
    I watched a documentary about biodegradable plastic research. Some really cool science but even the people working on the problem admit that it isn't a solution to all the plastic that currently exists. My HS senior said that he doesn't think that biodegradable plastic will be adopted unless there is widesprea government regulation and globa economic incentives. We had a good discussion about reducing our plastic consumption.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home Make Green Cleaners
    Which household cleaners did you try making? Have you been able to simplify your cleaning routine?

    Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/29/2024 11:51 AM
    I make my own laundry soap and store it in glass jars. Its easy, cheap, none of the ingredients come in plastic and most importantly, it works. Lots of laundry with 3 boys in sports.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kids Provide Alternatives
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) does your household use regularly, and what substitutes are you trying?

    Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/27/2024 7:55 AM
    I bought a set of fabric mesh produce bags which are working okay. Still working on the habit to wash them and remember to put them in the car for the next shopping trip.

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/21/2024 2:25 PM
    Link to today's Star Trib article about plastic film recycling plant shut down. Can't depend upon recycling to fix our plastic problems.

    https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-first-plastic-film-recycling-facility-struggling-just-two-months-after-opening/600345027/

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/18/2024 11:05 AM
    I am planning a high school graduation party for this summer. Instead of balloons I will use paper banners and tissue paper pom poms as decorations. I can rent fabric tablecloths and use compostable utensils.

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/18/2024 10:49 AM
    I don't like to use my reusable silicone bags because they are hard to dry after cleaning. Today I found a stand that will hold them open to drip dry! Hope this will be what I need to finally ditch the plastic bags.

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/15/2024 5:10 PM
    NPR posted an article about plastic recycling today. https://www.npr.org/2024/02/15/1231690415/plastic-recycling-waste-oil-fossil-fuels-climate-change

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/06/2024 7:57 PM
    Sorted the garbage out of the recycle bin at the ski meet today. 🤮

  • Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/04/2024 5:19 PM
    This challenge has made me more aware how much of the food I buy is in plastic.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Ditch the Plastic Wrap
    Which method did you try? Do you prefer reusable containers or reusable wraps?

    Sarah Marotz 's avatar
    Sarah Marotz 2/02/2024 7:17 AM
    Working to eliminate plastic film wrap at my house. I mostly use reusable glass containers because they are easy to sanitize and safe to heat. The one area I still struggle with is needing film wrap to cover items I'm sending elsewhere (neighbors, friends, etc.). I don't want to have to keep track of my reusable containers. Any ideas?