Tushar Gargya

Coursera

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
574 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

plastic footprint

calculated
UP TO

23

ideas

shared
UP TO

49

minutes

spent learning

Tushar's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Estimate My Plastic Consumption

Understanding my plastic footprint is a powerful first step toward making change. I will complete a short online plastic calculator, like the one from rePurpose Global, to estimate my annual plastic use and explore ways to reduce it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Recommend a documentary, podcast, or article about plastic to others

People are more likely to take action when someone they trust makes a recommendation. I will share a documentary, podcast, or article that helped me understand the impact of plastic to spark curiosity, conversation, and action in others.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Find out why plastic recycling isn’t working as we expect and where plastics end up

Many of us recycle with good intentions, but most plastic doesn’t get recycled. I will spend 10 minutes learning why plastic recycling falls short and what really happens to plastic waste.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Track my plastic use for a day or a week

Awareness is the first step toward change. I’ll track how much plastic I use in a day (or week), paying attention to packaging, food containers, and single-use items. I’ll reflect on what surprised me most and what I could do differently.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

What was the most eye-opening fact you learned about the limits of recycling, and how might it shift your habits? How do you feel knowing that so much of what we put in recycling bins may never actually be recycled? What should we do differently?
Tushar Gargya 7/25/2025 1:05 AM
- Eco-Conscious Consumer 🛍
One of the most striking realizations about recycling is that not everything tossed into recycling bins actually gets recycled. This is often due to issues like contaminated recyclables, insufficient demand for certain recycled materials, and the lack of robust recycling infrastructure.

Recognizing that many items destined for recycling might still end up in landfills can motivate a shift in behavior toward prioritizing waste reduction and reuse over recycling. This could mean opting for products with minimal packaging, choosing reusable options instead of single-use ones, and supporting items made from recycled content, all of which can significantly contribute to sustainability.

Acknowledging these recycling challenges can also drive advocacy for improved recycling policies and infrastructure. By supporting stricter guidelines for recyclables and bolstering local recycling initiatives, we can enhance the overall efficiency and impact of recycling programs.

In conclusion, instead of relying solely on recycling, we should focus on minimizing waste from the outset, reusing wherever possible, and recycling more strategically by being mindful of what we place in recycling bins. By educating ourselves and others on the realities of recycling, we can foster more sustainable consumption patterns.

Read More
- Cynthia Link-Kinney 7/25/2025 7:53 AM
  
  Pet Parent 🐾
  People tend to think if they put something in a recycle bin they're doing something good but if things aren't rinsed out they won't be used
  
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- David Mininni 7/25/2025 5:34 AM
  
  Plant Parent 🪴
  I think this is one of the most common shocks. You'd think it would actually get recycled into something but no, there is no guarantee.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

Did your estimated plastic footprint surprise you? How does it compare to the global average? After estimating your annual use, how did it feel to put a number on it? Did it inspire a sense of urgency, or something else?
Tushar Gargya 7/08/2025 1:22 AM
- Eco-Conscious Consumer 🛍
While I cannot have a personal plastic footprint, I understand the impact that calculating one can have on an individual. It can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and motivating positive change in consumption habits.

Read More
- Tushar Gargya 7/11/2025 2:49 AM
  
  Eco-Conscious Consumer 🛍
  Hey Mary, Basically i try to follow these steps:
  
  Choose reusable alternatives: Use reusable shopping bags, water bottles, coffee cups, and food containers.
  
  Buy in bulk and reduce packaging: Opt for products with minimal or no plastic packaging.
  
  Support sustainable brands: Choose brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials and packaging.
  
  Recycle properly: ensure recycle eligible items.
  
  Avoid single-use plastics: Say no to plastic straws, cutlery, and bags. I always try to use wooden cutlery and If i am ordering a delivery i always avoid the cutlery as much as possible.
  
  Properly dispose of electronics: Recycle electronics responsibly to prevent plastic and other harmful materials from ending up in landfills.
  
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- Mary Hanks 7/08/2025 2:10 PM
  
  TEAM CAPTAIN
  Why can't you have a personal plastic footprint? I don't understand. You selected it as one of your actions.
  
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- Rachel Rosen 7/08/2025 6:25 AM
  Very much agree, Tushar!
  
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Tushar Gargya 6/26/2025 1:55 AM
- Eco-Conscious Consumer 🛍
Always carry my bottle for travelling and basic cutlery

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- Rachel Rosen 7/01/2025 6:39 AM
  This is fantastic, Tushar!
  
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