Joe Jantke

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, and/or trans and nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

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.

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

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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

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

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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.

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

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

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.