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
Community
Give the Gift of Experiences
I will give experiences instead of things for gifts.
COMPLETED 11
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 12
DAILY ACTIONS
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
Plastics 101
Learn about bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastic
I will learn about what different descriptions and marketing terms mean when used on plastics.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Plastics 101
Recycle Plastic Caps
I will recycle 4 plastic caps per day by placing them back on the plastic bottles before placing them in my recycling bin.
COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS
Plastics 101
Read a book on plastics
I will learn more about the issues with plastics by picking up one of the books recommended by Hennepin County Library.
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 21
DAILY 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
Personal Care
Say no to “Flushable wipes”
Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.
I had such a great time with this challenge, and I loved that the kids jumped in, too. It sparked some fun dinner‑table conversations—and they were thrilled to get new water bottles! I’m just waiting to hear, ‘I lost my water bottle at school. Even so, we’ve already cut way back on our plastic use. We were going through 8-10 plastic bottles a day, and I didn’t realize how much that added up until this challenge.
This has been so impactful for my family, I am going to make an effort to keep push to keep as much plastic in the house as possible. It's not much more work to create our own cleaning wipes and mix our own cleaning products without the extra containers and spray bottles.
Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What did you do to advocate for less single-use items? What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?
The kids are now thinking outside the box on how to reuse the plastic that we already had in the house. My son made a really amazing mask with a few bottles and some plastic from the bread loaf and the zip tie.
We have dinner with the grandparents every Sunday and we all share the same to-go containers for both households. TEAMWORK - dinner at my house - dinner at grandpa's house same containers.
This month is going by fast, there were a few days that I didn't pay attention to the plastic water bottle lids and to not to crush them, the kids reminded me. It's exciting that they are getting involved too and paying attention to recycling.
I didn't recognize how much I crush plastic drink containers. I have caught myself several times and had to remember to rinse, add the lid, and to NOT crush the bottle.
Charles Schaller 2/27/2026 7:51 AM
Mark Windels 2/21/2026 9:37 AM