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H McCrillis 's avatar

H McCrillis

Community Team

"Continue reducing my family’s plastic waste and learning new ways to do so."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,400 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    250
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    280
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    280
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    10
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    10
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    280
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    140
    minutes
    spent learning

H's actions

Community

Pick Up Plastic Litter

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of plastic litter each day and dispose of it responsibly.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

On-the-go

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 10 pieces of plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 28
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

At Home

Make Green Cleaners

I will make  10 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

Community

Write letters, emails or sign petitions

I will write or sign 10 letters, emails or petitions to advocate my position on plastic-free policies. 

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support a Sharing Economy

I will support the sharing economy by joining a community tool exchange, toy library, or buy nothing group.

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 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or at work.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

REDUCE MY MILES DRIVEN

I will cut down the miles I drive to reduce microplastic shedding from tires. Alternatives include riding public transit, walking, biking, carpooling and combining trips.

COMPLETED 28
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?


  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/28/2025 1:31 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    Just saw this on a story from the University of Minnesota’s Facebook page.

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/28/2025 1:11 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    And so, the last day for recording our efforts here. We know, however, the true challenge against single use plastic never truly ends. Let’s use what we have learned and actions we’ve done to keep our communities, state, nation, and planet clean.

    It has an honor to communicate with, learn from, get back in touch with, and meet all of you- even those that never posted on the feed. 🫡

    As for my first step, I’ll be purchasing a Ridwell as I’ve discussed. I’m trying to figure out, though, if I’ll have enough room for the box on my front steps. My side steps would probably have more room.

    I’ll also be reducing my bathroom and laundry room waste. Might possibly also be able to clean out the playhouse and garage this year.

    Thanks once again for all your efforts and successes,

    H McCrillis.

    • Michelle  B's avatar
      Michelle B 2/28/2025 6:07 AM
      • 24-DAY STREAK
      Thank you for your great posts and for your leadership. You are very encouraging! And, how much you personally embody sustainability and being plastic-free is inspiring. See you next time!

    • Dustin Pelikan's avatar
      Dustin Pelikan 2/28/2025 5:46 AM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      Well said Heather. Thank you for all that you have taught me and helping bring awareness to myself and the community on good habits.
      Looking forward to seeing you next year.

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/28/2025 12:54 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    So since we can all access 2025’s results, I’m going to list all of 2024’s results.

    • 29,311 minutes learning.
    • 5,191 pounds of carbon dioxide had been saved.
    • 2,841 disposable cups weren’t sent to landfills.
    • 2,813 bottles weren’t sent to landfills.
    • 2,378 pieces of litter were picked up.
    • 2,295 pieces of cutlery were not sent to landfills.
    • 1,942 zero-waste meals consumed.
    • 1,592 plastic straws not sent to landfills.
    • 607 + 266 pounds of waste recycled. (I don’t know which waste they’re counting for these.)
    • 490 pounds of packaging waste avoided.
    • 362 advocacy actions completed.
    • 178 conversations with people.
    • 52 waste audits conducted.
    • 49 documentaries watched.
    • 12 public officials or leaders contacted.

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/27/2025 2:13 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    If you did read my partial comparison of this year’s results versus last year’s- which categories we improved on - thank you. 🙂

    We have so far prevented 2,671 bottles from being sent to the landfill compared to 2024’s 2,813 bottles. However, I’m not sure about which action(s) were used to calculate the “bottles not sent to the landfill” impact.

    The “Stop buying plastic bottles” option is only a one-time action, and I know I can easily recycle over ten bottles while just waiting at any bus stop in either Hennepin or Ramsey County. I’d estimate I’ve kept about 50 to 60 away from landfills this month. ♻️🚌

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/26/2025 3:34 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    So I’ve been comparing our collective 2025 results so far to the total from 2024.

    The major improvement we’ve made is the amount of carbon dioxide saved! 10,601 pounds so far, 5,191 pounds saved in 2024. 🙌🏽

    The other improvements:

    • 3,711 zero waste meals consumed vs 1,942.
    • 574 pounds of packaging waste recycled vs 490 pounds.
    • 394 conversations with people vs 178.
    • 63 documentaries watched vs 49 watched.
    • 22 public officials or leaders contacted vs 12 contacted.
    Congratulations on the improvement! 😃

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/25/2025 2:28 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    So I noticed the reflection question regarding alternative toothpaste. I own a bamboo toothbrush from Free the Ocean and know that dental floss that isn’t made from plastic exists, but are there still mouthwashes that aren’t in plastic bottles?

    • Michelle  B's avatar
      Michelle B 2/25/2025 6:05 AM
      • 24-DAY STREAK
      I haven't tried them, but I hear there are mouthwash tablets that dissolve in your mouth, and, that you dissolve water. I would *hope* you could get the liquid form dispensed at a bulk store sometime. I need to find that plastic-free floss!

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/25/2025 1:56 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    So months back, I fell for greenwashing. The shame. 😞

    I bought this. I’m contemplating joining Terracycle to participate in Colgate’s Oral Care Free Recycling Program, though, since it claims to take toothpaste cartons, toothbrushes and their outer packaging, and floss containers.

    • Erin Schumacher's avatar
      Erin Schumacher 2/27/2025 6:26 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      Sephora has a Terracycle bin in the store you can recycle empty toothpaste tubes and cosmetics.

    • H McCrillis 's avatar
      H McCrillis 2/26/2025 3:10 AM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      The only thing they don’t mention taking are mouthwash bottles, but most curbside recycling does collect them.

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/24/2025 12:41 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    Today was one of the few days in days I’ve actually picked up trash from outside my yard. I put a flyer for summer programs for kids in a local little library. I recycled a cardboard box in the inorganic recycling light blue bin near our neighborhood ballpark and took home a creamer’s bottle to remove the stupid plastic wrapping from it so it can actually be recycled. 😒🔪🥤

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/23/2025 1:41 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    Well, today I helped Mom by bringing down some plastic lids to containers we may or may not still have anymore. I emptied and destroyed expired ibuprofen into a Deterra pouch and am saving the bottle for Ridwell. I also saved the film from a box of Byerly’s doughnuts. Finally, I recycled a bottle of Spray and Wash, but threw away the label, pump, - stupid things always clog! 🤬- and some bubble wrap.

    TL; DR: I made up for yesterday’s unintentional avoidance. :p

    • Krina Damien's avatar
      Krina Damien 2/24/2025 2:07 PM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      I've never heard of these Deterra pouches! I just keep collecting expired medicines in hopes that I eventually take them to the proper disposal site. I'll have to look into these!

    • Brandon Rathbun's avatar
      Brandon Rathbun 2/23/2025 3:13 AM
      • 28-DAY STREAK
      Busy morning, great job...

  • H McCrillis 's avatar
    H McCrillis 2/22/2025 12:46 AM
    • 28-DAY STREAK
    I don’t think I did anything today that had much to do with plastic. 🤷🏽