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Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar

Ruth McGuire-Schoff

Community Team

Points Total

  • 0 Today
  • 0 This Week
  • 869 Total

Participant Impact

  • up to
    37
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • up to
    2.9
    pounds
    packaging waste avoided
  • up to
    1.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • up to
    1.6
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • up to
    6.0
    pounds
    waste recycled
  • up to
    1.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • up to
    90
    minutes
    spent learning

Ruth's Actions

Food

Ditch the Baggie

I will ditch the zippered plastic bags for food storage and switch to reusable containers.

Completed
One-Time Action

At Home

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about plastic waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will avoid 1 plastic bags each shopping trip by not bagging my produce or using reusable produce bags.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Shop Used

I will buy secondhand goods to reduce the demand for new plastic products and avoid packaging.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

At Home

Recycle Plastic Bags

Instead of trashing them, I will recycle 1 plastic bags per day by bringing them to a drop-off.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Extend the Life of Electronics

Manufacturers want you to replace your phones every year. I will keep my phone for at least 3 years and make any necessary repairs or updates to keep it functioning as long as possible.

Completed
One-Time Action

At Home

Avoid Harmful Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polyvinyl, polystyrene and polycarbonate (#3,#6 and #7).

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Ditch the Disposable Cleaning Wipes

I will replace my disposable cleaning wipes with a reusable brush or cloth.

Completed
One-Time Action

Personal Care

Practice Low-Waste Hair Care

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, and conditioners with a bar, refillable option, or I will make my own.

Completed
One-Time Action

On-the-go

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed


  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/28/2023 1:05 PM
    I asked my boss if I could try using ‘real’ silverware in my elementary school kitchen. It was delivered and we used it for the first time today! Looking forward to less waste coming out of my kitchen! Kudos to my team for being willing to try this!

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/26/2023 1:07 PM
    Watched A Plastic Ocean.
    Convicted to continue to try to live a plastic free lifestyle.

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/22/2023 10:49 AM
    I watched ’Tapped’
    Recommend watching! I shared with my family and friends. Along with carrying a reusable bag with you, bring a reusable bottle. Never purchase a plastic bottle again!

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/21/2023 3:05 AM
    Going to the grocery store is overwhelming when you look at it from the perspective of not wanting to purchase plastic packaging. It’s not as easy of a task. I don’t live near the co ops, so those are planned trips, but there seems to be just as much packaging there other than the bulk sections. I feel like I’m fighting against the norm

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/15/2023 3:27 PM
    I watched the kickoff event. I have always been confused about what goes in the recycle bin. This graphic was helpful in identifying the ‘good’ plastics that are recyclable. Lots of good info in the video.

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/11/2023 1:37 PM
    I am trying organics recycling. Hennepin County has a drop off site close to me. I have a small container and compostable bags.

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/10/2023 4:48 PM
    I wrote to Autumnwood Farm letting them know I love that they are using glass bottles for their milk, but asked why they use a plastic cap. Here is their response:

    We use plastic caps because that is the only safe, practical and resealable option we know of. The only requirement I found from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is that all caps are required to be “food grade” safe. We will do our best to explore your alternatives as time goes on and try to find a better alternative if we can. Thanks!

    Maybe the more they hear from people, they will take action. I found Oui yogurt with a foil seal in glass, or they could use a metal lid.

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/08/2023 4:32 PM
    I ordered toilet paper from Who Gives a Crap. It’s made from recycled paper or bamboo and no plastic wrap involved.

    • Annie Deutsch's avatar
      Annie Deutsch 2/08/2023 7:02 PM
      I enjoy the brand, Reel, which you can find at Target. I’ll have to look into the brand you mentioned!

  • Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/06/2023 4:47 PM
    I made cottage cheese and greek yogurt. Easier than I thought it would be. The hard part was finding milk without a plastic component. I found Autumnwood Farm milk at Festival Foods from Forest Lake. It was in a glass jar but with a plastic cap. I will be researching local farms to see what’s out there.
  • Reflection Question
    At Home Watch a Documentary
    Which documentary did you choose to watch? What did you learn?

    Ruth McGuire-Schoff's avatar
    Ruth McGuire-Schoff 2/05/2023 9:27 PM
    Watched The Plastic Problem