April 1, 2016

Fossil Free Your Life – April Eco-Challenge!

Fossil Free Your Life – Participate in our monthly Eco-Challenges!ecochallenge-april-featuredimage

Throughout 2016, 350 Colorado is rallying supporters to take part in a monthly Eco-Challenge designed to start us on a path to a Fossil-Free lifestyle.  Join the movement and participate with us!  Each Eco-Challenge is designed to be an easy and fun way to remind ourselves that each of us CAN contribute and make a difference starting NOW.

Won’t you join us?  Click here to sign up for the monthly Eco-Challenge!

APRIL ECO-CHALLENGE: Reduce your waste!

    This month’s Eco-Challenge is in collaboration with Andrea Sanders, founder and director of Be Zero.  Andrea will host a web conference on Wed., April 6th at 6pm to discuss how we can all be successful in reducing our trash. If you would like to attend, please email andrea@bezero.co

Waste and climate change:

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that landfills are the third-leading cause of methane emissions in the U.S. Nearly a fifth of of methane emissions come from landfills.
  • Landfills release huge volumes of methane and carbon dioxide  from rotting organic matter. This is why it’s so important to compost! Composting is the natural biological breakdown of organic matter. During the process of aerobic composting (in the presence of oxygen), microorganisms consume the organic matter and release heat and carbon dioxide (CO2). However, most of the carbon contained in the organic matter is retained in the compost instead of being released into the atmosphere, which is why compost nourishes your soil and plants.

American’s make on average 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Do you know how much you produce?  We can all dramatically reduce our trash, and plastic (think fossil fuels!) footprint, one step at a time.  This month, 350 Colorado challenges you to be self-reflective, look at what waste you make, how much, and what changes you can make to reduce your waste.  Here are 5 simple things you can REFUSE beginning this month:

  1. Disposable plastic straws
  2. Disposable coffee/tea/to-go cups (Bring your own, or invest in one)
  3. Disposable to-go food containers & utensils (Pull out that tupperware when you head out to eat, or call ahead for take out saying you have a container)
  4. Plastic groceries bags, produce bags, sandwich/snack bags
  5. Napkins… try carrying around a cloth napkins for those messy times.
  6. Grab your food in bulk when possible.  Simply Bulk is jar, cloth bag friendly! But please feel free to share your favorite place to buy bulk too.
  7. Share your waste reduction creativity with 350 Colorado via Facebook, Instagram, email.

Not challenging enough? Try these for our monthly bonuses:

  1. Attend a trash diet workshop with Be Zero AND/OR join their Field Crew – http://www.bezero.co/trash-diet-workshop/. Choose from May 1st, 7th, or 22nd; limit to 5 people and from 1-4PM
  2. Go an entire day creating zero trash.
  3. Tour the waste and/or recycling facility – learn about your disposable impact.
  4. Create your checklist of reusable items to take with you when you leave the house.  Put a note by the door as a reminder till the habit forms!
  5. Collect your total month’s waste in 1 container. Challenge yourself to see how little you can produce and let us know how you did!

“We have a design problem — not a trash problem. Companies and businesses don’t have incentive to make changes to their product’s packaging or the way the item is designed unless they hear from you! Each of us can demand better products — ones that last, are reusable, repairable, and in the end, materials that are recoverable by industry to be used again and again.”  … Andrea Sanders

RESOURCES:ecochallenge-April-sq

  • Simply Straws  Handmade in California / Dishwasher safe / Easy to clean /  learn more about them on their awesome website!
  • EcoJarz – for those who love using jars!
  • Cuppow – Mason jar lids, accessories, and more.
  • To-go Ware  – bamboo portable utensil set and stainless steel containers.

 

Did you successfully complete last month’s Eco-Challenge? Fill out this report form to be entered into a prize drawing at the end of the year!

Fossil Free Your Life one small step at a time.  Together, we can make a big change.

Thank you!

350 Colorado Team

P.S. Here’s more info about how the Monthly Eco-Challenge works:

  • At the start of each month we will announce the month’s Eco-Challenge via Facebook, Instagram, and email.  Take up the charge – sign up below and get started!
  • Extend your personal impact by sharing the Eco-Challenge with at least five friends (via Facebook, Instagram, email, or word of mouth).  Share your ideas, successes, and struggles in upholding the challenge on social media to inspire others.
  • With each month’s new challenge, we will also ask you to let us know if you successfully completed last month’s challenge to be entered into a prize drawing at the end of the year. We will email you with a quick form to fill out (honor system reporting). We have great prizes donated by Patagonia and others! Each successfully completed month will get your name in a jar.
  • Some months there will be extra credit for bonus challenges for an extra chance toward year-end prizes!

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.” – Mark Twain

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Please share the graphic below on Facebook! Thank you!

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