University of Massachusetts Boston Recycling Lifestyle Change Project The project is about usingless plastic such as straws and cups and Start or increase

University of Massachusetts Boston Recycling Lifestyle Change Project The project is about usingless plastic such as straws and cups and Start or increase recycling, Use less water, Stop using disposable strawsThe project is to make small lifestyle changes to reduce the ecological footprint. It has to be 8 paragraphs each paragraph talks about one week. You should keep a journal of the changes you make, including dates, how those changes impact your daily routine, and your thoughts and feelings about making the changes. At the end of the project, you should also write a summary response (at least 500 words, single spaced, typed) detailing your experience overall, how difficult it was to keep up with the changes, and anything you think you could add or do differently.So 8 paragraphs plus summery of at least 500 words. There is an example to help you understand the project. Life Style
Change Project
BY:
XXXXX
Environmental Science
Due: May 1, 2018
CHANGES:
• Increase recycling
• Use less water
• Stop using disposable straws
• Bring reusable bags to store
• Choose cloth over paper
• Support green businesses
• Support local stores and products
• Stop using dryer sheets
• Shop eco-friendly products
• Stop drinking using plastic water bottles
JOURNAL ENTRIES
MARCH 28, 2018
I started my life style change project on March 14, 2018. This week took a lot of
getting used to. I have never gone to the store with reusable bags. I also went to a
grocery store that was ran by the “little guys”, meaning they were not a big chain like
Market Basket or Shaw’s. I stopped at a grocery store called Colonial Village in
Contoocook, NH since it is spring break and I am home. This is a grocery, general, and
pharmacy store. At the grocery store, I searched the company whose food I was buying
to see if they are eco-friendly. This made grocery shopping take a lot longer, but it felt
good to support an environmentally friendly company. They also had a lot of local
produce which I bought over non-local if I needed it. I also bought reusable dryer balls
so that I could stop using toxic dryer sheets. Another thing I did this week was take
shorter showers. This was kind of difficult since it is cold outside, and a warm shower
always feels nice. I usually take around 12 minutes for showering, but I have cut down to
8 minutes. I usually drink from a reusable water bottle and fill it up when I go do
breakfast and dinner. However, I usually will have a case of plastic water bottles in my
room just in case I forget to fill my water bottle. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, I
bought a Brita Filter. I did not think about affecting other people, but my roommates
have also stopped buying plastic water bottles and using my Brita. This makes me feel
good because my purchase has caused a total of 5 people to stop using plastic water
bottles. I did not think that my actions would also lead to my roommates being more
environmentally friendly too.
So overall what I have done so far is:
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Support local stores and products
• Support green businesses
• Stop using dryer sheets
• Take quicker showers
• Stop drinking from plastic water bottles
APRIL 4, 2018
This week I added one more thing for me to do to be more environmentally
friendly. I stopped using disposable straws. Now when I get a smoothie, I do not grab a
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straw and when I sit down I take the cover off and drink it. Although this is a very small
help to the environment it feels good to know that I am contributing less plastic to the
environment.
This week when I went grocery shopping, I figured there must be an easier way to
determine if a company was eco-friendly. I searched in the app store for a tool that may
help me. I downloaded an app on my phone and was able to take a picture of the bar
code. The app searches the bar code and gives that company a grade, A+ being very ecofriendly and an F for very harmful. I have been able to keep the shower under 8 minutes
except for two days ago. I completely was not thinking and forgot about my goal but will
continue trying to keep it under 8 minutes.
A new bullet that I added this week since the previous week is:
• Stop using disposable straws
APRIL 11, 2018
This week I have put more effort into recycling. Sometimes I want to throw away paper
but there is no recycling bin around. Before I would just throw it in the trash, feel a little
guilty, but move on. Now I will hold onto it until I find a recycling bin. I have also
become more aware of things that can be recycled and cannot. At the bottom of a lot of
containers there is a recycling symbol that I have never payed attention to before this
project. It is nice to not feel guilty about throwing things away anymore and to recycle
things that I did not know I could recycle.
On Sunday, I went grocery shopping and forgot to bring reusable bags. I asked the
cashier to not put the groceries in a plastic bag. I brought my groceries to my car Sam’s
Club style and brought out some reusable bags from my room to bring in what I could not
carry on the first load.
Unfortunately, I could not support any local grocery stores, but I supported a relatively
local product. For yogurt, I usually buy Chobani but this time I bought Stonyfield which
is a dairy company in New Hampshire. I continued to buy from companies that do their
best to be sustainable. I continued using the eco-friendly company detector app. Where
ever possible I bought the product, I needed from the eco-friendlier company even if it
was more expensive. I also bought a reusable straw and have not used a plastic straw for
two weeks now.
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Something that I added to my list this week on top of the last few weeks is:
• Recycle more
APRIL 18, 2018
This week, I decided to also use cloth instead of paper where possible. Now when I dry
my hands after washing them, I use a towel instead of a paper towel. Also, instead of
using a paper napkin at dinner, I use a cloth napkin. I also bought some microfiber
cleaning towels and they actually work better at cleaning messes than paper towels. They
are also small, so I am able to easily put them in with my other laundry and save some
water because I am not washing them by themselves.
This week I also bought reusable beeswax wrap so that I can easily pack a lunch. Before,
I had always used plastic zip lock bags and then threw them away when I am done. Now
I use these beeswax wraps and it works just as well and I am contributing a little less
plastic into the environment.
My reusable dryer balls still work just as good as dryer sheets. This week, I went to a
farmer’s market near my house. It was great because some of these people live near me
so not only was I contributing a little less pollution into the environment (no pesticides,
no shipping, no plastic packaging, etc.) but I was also supporting small local businesses
which feels good.
On top of all the previous weeks tasks, this week I have also added:
• Choose cloth over paper
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SUMMARY
I learned a lot of lessons from this project. One lesson is how easy some changes
are and how difficult others are. Some changes that were immediately easy were increase
recycling, use cloth over paper, support green and local businesses, stop using dryer
sheets, and stop using plastic water bottles. Some tasks that were hard at first but became
easier as time went on were stop using disposable straws, bring reusable bags to the store,
and shopping eco-friendly products. The task that was the most challenging was cutting
the shower short.
When I first stopped using disposable straws, I noticed that if I got a drink getting
a straw was like a reflex. The first couple times, I would reach for one and then stop
remembering this project and all the harm straws can cause to the environment. After the
first few times and buying a reusable straw, I did not even think about reaching for a
plastic straw. Bringing reusable bags was a challenge at first because just like the plastic
straw, it was not a part of my habit. I have always been used to going to a store, buying
something, and leaving carrying it in a plastic bag. Shopping eco-friendly products was a
challenge at first because I looked up each company and shopping took a very long time.
When I got the app shopping became so much easier and felt good because I was
supporting more eco-friendlier businesses. Keeping the shower short was very
challenging. I feel like I am always freezing so when I get in the shower it is nice
because I am finally warm. I still managed to keep the shower under 8 minutes every
time except once. When I was growing up, I went to a summer camp where we had to
bring biodegradable bathing products and bath in the lake. I live on a lake so maybe this
summer, I could buy some biodegradable products and wash my hair in the lake every
now and then. Some things I already did before this project and continue to do is walk or
bike to somewhere whenever possible, use LED light bulbs, unplug vampire lights, and
some other little things.
I think this was a very eye-opening project. There are many things that I did this
project that I will continue to do beyond this class. I will continue to check the recycling
labels on products even if it seems like they are not recyclable. When I own my own
house, I will buy appliances that are energy efficient and use minimal water. I will not
use disposable straws at all anymore and if a server brings them I will tell them they can
take them back. Wherever possible, I will use cloth over paper. This might be a little
difficult with guests, but they will catch on. I will continue to support local and ecofriendly businesses. I do not want my money going into companies that do not care about
the environment. Although I am just one person maybe someday millions more can do
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this, and companies will be forced to be eco-friendly to stay in business. I will continue
to use dryer balls because they are much more convenient since I do not need to go out
and buy dryer sheets when I run out and they are not toxic. I will also stop buying plastic
water bottles. However, I really do not like water from treatment plants. To me it does
not taste good. Luckily, I want to live in a more rural area, so I will most likely have a
well. If I live somewhere where I am drinking from water treatment plant water I will
cook with my tap water but more likely buy big jugs of water rather than a lot of small
bottles in order to use a little less plastic.
Overall, this project showed me how easy it can be to make these changes and
how good it feels knowing that I am contributing a little less pollution to our
environment.
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