Waste

Rethink waste by refusing, reducing, reusing, and recycling.

We are more than consumers — we have the power to shape a different future. Reducing waste helps protect people and places impacted by pollution and overproduction, and reminds us that our everyday choices can create lasting change.

Research Local Waste and Landfill Sites

I will spend (___) minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

EJSCREEN: EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening & Mapping Tool

Race is the biggest indicator in the US of whether you live near toxic waste

EPA Environmental Justice Research
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Collect Litter While Plogging or Plalking

Each day, I will go on a plog or plalk for (___) minutes and collect (___) items of litter.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

About Plogging

Plogging: What is Sweden’s new green sport?

Bristol environmentalist wins PM's award for plogging

Plogging Org
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DAILY ACTION
Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep (___) disposable plastic bottles from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Water Footprint Calculator: How to Save Water

Single Use Plastic Fact Sheet
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DAILY ACTION
Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending (___) disposable cups to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Starbucks to accept reusable cups at drivethrough

How can coffee shops reduce single use coffee cup waste
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DAILY ACTION
Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep (___) plastic straws out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Simply Straws

Plastic Pollution Coalition: The Last Plastic Straw

More Recycling Won't Solve Plastic Pollution
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DAILY ACTION
Use Reusable Bags when Shopping

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Study: Where are Plastic Bags Banned Around the World?

What to do When Your Grocery Store Says “No Thanks” to Your Reusable Bag

More Recycling Won't Solve Plastic Pollution

The World Counts: Plastic Bags Used Per Year
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DAILY ACTION
Advocate For Better Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Can You Imagine A Supermarket With No Plastic?

New Study Finds PFAS Chemicals in Takeout Food Packaging

Good Product, Bad Package: Top Sustainable Packaging Mistakes
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate. I will keep (___) containers out of the landfill each day.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Tips to Use Less Plastic

100 Tips For A Zero Waste Home
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DAILY ACTION
Compost My Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to 0.42 lbs (0.19 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

WikiHow: How to Compost

Composting Is Way Easier Than You Think

5 Reasons Why Composting Is the Greenest Thing You Can Do
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DAILY ACTION
Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to 0.21 lbs (0.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Reducing Paper Use
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DAILY ACTION
Check Recycling Near Me

Recycling rules vary by location. I’ll spend (___) minutes learning which plastics my local program accepts. This helps me avoid “wishcycling” — tossing items in the bin and hoping they’ll be recycled, even if they aren’t.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Wishcycling: how ‘eco-friendly’ labels confuse shoppers and make recycling less effective

North America: Earth 911

Recycling Myths, Debunked
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DAILY ACTION
Go Paperless and Opt Out of Junk Mail

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Catalog Choice - Stop Junk Mail for Good

How to stop junk mail and save trees — and your sanity
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Visit a Local Recycling Center, Landfill, or Transfer Station

Seeing where waste goes can change how we think about what we throw away. I will visit a local facility to learn more about the waste stream in my community and share what I learn with others and in the feed.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Online Database for Recycling Centers in the US

(Video 4:58) Virtually Tour a Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

(Video 2:57) What Really Happens to Recyclable Waste in the US?
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Find Local Recycling Depots

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Terracycle

Earth 911

9 simple tips to recycle more plastic
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Complete a Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will share a photo and reflection of this action on the feed.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

How To Conduct a Household Waste Audit

How to condusct a home waste audit
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Carry My Trash for Awareness

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Rob Greenfield - Trash Me

I wore all my trash for 30 days
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DAILY ACTION
Learn About and Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend (___) minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

How to Buy Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Clothing on a Budget

Fashion Footprint Calculator

The Environmental Cost of Fashion

Fashion for the Earth
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Repair a Broken Item

I will repair at least one item that is broken, but is repairable. This might be items like garden tools, sewing machine, small appliances, electronics, clothing, and more.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Open Repair Alliance

Fix-It Club

Repair PDX

Sample of Electronics, Musical Instruments, and Appliances Repair Guides - Check your Public Library
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ONE-TIME ACTION
CREATE A CUSTOM ACTION

Ideally, you’ll choose at least one measurable goal so that you can measure your success but there are no limits on what you can choose—so exercise your creativity!

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