Laura Fobes

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

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 spend at least 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 5 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

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

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will take a walk for 39 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

I will enjoy 5 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will write or call 2 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.