Kristin Mellstrom

HC PHEPR

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
666 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

11

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

30

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

4.8

pounds

waste recycled
UP TO

39

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

165

minutes

spent learning

Kristin's actions

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 26
DAILY 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 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Plastics 101

Recycle Plastic Bags

Instead of trashing them, I will recycle 1 plastic bags per day bringing them to a drop-off or special pickup

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Plastics 101

Avoid Harmful Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polyvinyl, polystyrene and polycarbonate (#3,#6 and #7).

COMPLETED 26
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

Learn about Local Plastics Recycling

Plastics recycling is real, and it works in the Twin Cities metro area when done correctly. I will spend 10 minutes learning about how to correctly recycle plastics in the Twin Cities and where recycled plastics end up.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Plastics 101

Put compostable plastics in the right place

I will make sure any BPI-certified compostable plastic products I use will be disposed of correctly by putting them in my curbside compost/food scraps bin or taking them to a drop-off location and not placing them in the regular recycling.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Plastics 101

Do some research on polystyrene and polyvinyl. How many items in your house already contain these toxins?
Kristin Mellstrom 2/27/2026 9:57 AM
Most of our plastics are LDPE and HDPE, but take out containers are still often made of cheaper plastics like PS that can't be recycled. I guess I should just eat in the restaurant rather than getting take out in the future!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Plastics 101

Has separating your plastic bags for recycling helped you identify how you might reduce how many you have? What are you doing differently now?
Kristin Mellstrom 2/27/2026 9:53 AM
When I order products online, I ask for original packages when that's an option so socks or whatever just come in the manufacturer's cardboard box rather than an extra plastic envelope or bigger box with plastic bubble wrap. I like this new option offered by more online businesses.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
On-the-go

Can you think of any scenarios where using your own bottle is harder? How can you make sure not to get a disposable bottle in that case?
Kristin Mellstrom 2/27/2026 9:50 AM
Often at conferences, there are plastic water bottles provided with box lunches. Maybe skipping the plastic bottle and just providing paper cups to fill from a pitcher or at the drinking fountain would work instead. That's what my team did for our meetings with external partners, both to save money and the environment!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
On-the-go

Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
Kristin Mellstrom 2/27/2026 9:48 AM
I see more paper straws from vendors - Yay! - and people using stainless steel straws at work (and in my home).

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Kristin Mellstrom 2/24/2026 9:21 AM
Ava and I got these after she did a report about the Pacific Garbage Patch. The judgy one felt a little too mean-spirited to put on my water bottle, so I just stuck it to my bulletin board instead! :)

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