Beth Cotton

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.

I will keep 8 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 6 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

I will avoid sending 4 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and POC-majority neighborhoods. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

I will take a 60-minute walk outside each day.

I will spend 60 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

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

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

I will save up to 15 gal (56 L) of water a day or 450 gal (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.