Mayra Ortiz

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

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

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will source 3 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

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

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

I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

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

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

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

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

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 improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

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

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

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.