Be part of the solution with the Plastic-Free Challenge .

Hennepin County | Ramsey County | Washington County

February 1 - February 28, 2025

Excelsior Methodists Punt Plastics Feed

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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?

Jacqueline Colby 2/28/2025 12:42 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 16-DAY STREAK
Thanks for making this resource available. My efforts to reduce my plastic use will continue!

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Katie Schlist 2/23/2025 1:17 PM
today I purchased a more expensive grocery product that came in glass instead of plastic so that the container can be more easily recycled when empty

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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 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.

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- 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.
  
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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 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.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some low-waste or reusable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable? Are there any items where it would be difficult to avoid plastic waste?
Jacqueline Colby 2/18/2025 12:08 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 16-DAY STREAK
I have decided it is pretty much impossible to buy meat without plastic packaging. I need to find more more tasty meatless recipes.

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Katie Schlist 2/15/2025 2:08 PM
I'm here to hear how to reduce my plastic use. Today's my first day!

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Jacqueline Colby 2/14/2025 12:27 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 16-DAY STREAK
Go Excelsior Methodists Punt Plastics! We are currently in 22nd place among the 238 teams participating in the plastic challenge! Not bad at all! Keep checking in on the challenge site as often as you can, and more importantly, keep learning about how to reduce your use of plastic.

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- H McCrillis 2/15/2025 1:27 AM
  - 28-DAY STREAK
  Good work!
  
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Susan Robertson 2/07/2025 1:54 PM
Very well. I was always proficient with recycling before, so these aren't big changes for our household.

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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

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- Michelle B 2/05/2025 1:38 PM
  - 24-DAY STREAK
  Great idea for empty tp rolls! Thanks
  
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kristie lester 1/20/2025 1:44 PM
glad to see that there are many things that I am already doing

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