Join Me and Be Plastic Free!
Hello all! My name is Shauna Dauderman and I'm a Fresno Chaffee Zoo
employee and the mastermind of the 30 Day Plastic Challenge, which I’ve
nicknamed “30DPC”.
This is my personal journey on the plastic challenge path,
avoiding single-use plastic and, so far, it has been smooth sailing.
July 10th marked the first ten days of the 30DPC and a
majority of those ten days were spent on a family vacation away from home.
I was in Los Angeles on day one of the Plastic Challenge
and, although the city is a huge, urban metropolis, it was not difficult to
find substitutes for plastic. My family stayed in Embassy Suites for two days,
which offered a continental breakfast that was completely plastic-free. I was
pleasantly surprised to learn that Dodger Stadium in downtown L.A. offered
almost all concessions in cardboard containers and glass bottles.
Shortly after returning home, I shopped for items that were
free of any single-use plastic. I invested in some canvas bags and was absolutely
thrilled to find peanut butter in glass jars.
 |
| On
vacation, I couldn't help but pick up the non-decomposable plastic that I saw lying around on Cayucos Beach |
I was on a roll until my local supermarket would not let me
purchase fresh produce without a plastic bag. I did end up purchasing the
produce and made a mental note to save the bags and use them again or to buy
produce at a Farmer's Market where plastic bags are not a requirement for
purchase.
On July 2nd, the Teen LEADERS volunteer program went to the
Monterey Bay Aquarium to collaborate with their volunteers and to enjoy the
aquarium. My brown-bag sack lunch that day consisted of an orange, a peanut
butter and jelly sandwich with bread that was purchased wrapped in paper, and
fresh cucumbers and carrots that I packed in re-usable Tupperware.
The last three days of my vacation were spent in Morro Bay,
California. I brought my plastic-free groceries with me for snacks and did not
use a straw or plastic utensil whenever my family ate out.
Although it has been challenging at times, my experience
with the 30DPC has been extremely rewarding. I have never felt as fulfilled as
I have now, explaining how I am doing my part to conserve and do what I love.
Are YOU up to the challenge? Follow along with other Teen LEADERS' 30DPC
journey on our blog. Looking forward to sharing other ways we can be
plastic-free!
