Kelci Atkins

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

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

I will keep track and reduce my consumption of refined sugars, including sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

I will commute by bike 5 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 4.47 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

I will sign up for a car-sharing service or organize car sharing with my neighbors or classmates to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

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 enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

I will source 2 meal(s) each day from local producers.

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 120 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

I will raise money to support Ecochallenge.org or another nonprofit.

I will host a viewing party with 1 friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on an environmental issue that matters to me.

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will work from home 21 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

I will use the resource below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

I will have a group garage sale with friends, family, and/or neighbors.

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

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.