Sarah Syverud

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 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 spend at least 5 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.

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

I will spend 5 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

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

What can lack of access to nutritious food affect a community? How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?

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.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 4 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

I will offer to help 1 person(s) who are in need each day.

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) each day.

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.