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Kelly Messner's avatar

Kelly Messner

Akron Zoo

"Small steps add up to a big impact when lots of people participate. The mission is to make small steps and teach others how to as well."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 307 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    plastic items
    avoided
  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    idea
    shared
  • UP TO
    100
    minutes
    spent learning

Kelly's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Understand Plastic’s Impact on My Health

Plastics can leach harmful chemicals into food, water, and the air we breathe. I will spend 20 minutes learning about the health impacts of plastic exposure and explore safer swaps — like choosing glass or stainless steel over plastic for food storage and drinking water.

COMPLETED 4
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 20 minutes learning why plastic recycling falls short and what really happens to plastic waste.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

First Steps: Start with You

Discover the difference between bioplastics, compostable plastics, and recyclable plastics

Not all “eco-friendly” plastics are created equal. I will spend 20 minutes exploring the differences between bioplastics, compostable plastics, and recyclable plastics—and what happens to each at the end of its life.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

First Steps: Start with You

Swap one product for a refillable or plastic-free option

Even small swaps can add up to big impact. I will replace one product I use regularly — like soap, cleaning spray, or snacks — with a refillable or plastic-free version.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Support businesses with plastic-free or refillable options

Where we spend our money shapes the market. I will support a business that offers plastic-free, low-waste, or refillable products or services.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Invite others to join the Ecochallenge

Our actions are more powerful when we take them together. I will invite someone to join the Ecochallenge with me so we can learn and take action together.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Give a small gift that helps someone reduce plastic (e.g., tote, bottle, soap bar)

Giving can be an act of change and inspiration. I will give a thoughtful, plastic-free or plastic-reducing gift — like a reusable bag, bottle, or bar soap — to someone in my life and share why I chose it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Level Up: Influence Friends and Family

Start a household challenge to reduce plastic

Change starts at home. I will create a fun challenge with my household — like using no single-use plastic for a day or swapping out a product — to make plastic reduction a shared goal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed


  • Kelly Messner's avatar
    Kelly Messner 7/15/2025 5:23 AM
    • Educator 🧠
    I am learning so much!! I had no idea we had a plastic recycling plant in Akron.
    "Alterra in Akron is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as large-quantity generators of hazardous waste."

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What influenced your decision on what to swap, and how does that small change feel in the bigger picture? Was the swap easy or difficult? What did it make you realize about convenience, cost, or access to better options?

    Kelly Messner's avatar
    Kelly Messner 7/11/2025 4:20 AM
    • Educator 🧠
    I thought about what plastic we use that could not be reused... plastic wrap is what came to mind. I ordered some reusable food covers that work great! Now I won't have to buy plastic wrap and we will keep some plastic out of the landfill.
    I realized that being more environmentally conscious does not mean spending more necessarily. Using the reusable wraps will save us money in just a short time. It helps me see that lots of small changes could add up to some big ones. And we don't have to break the bank in the process.

    • Brandon Regan's avatar
      Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 9:22 AM
      • Book Lover 📚
      This is a great point! A big change I made recently was picking up Pyrex food containers. They are more sturdy and reusable than the traditional Ziploc containers and can hold plenty of leftovers!
  • 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?

    Kelly Messner's avatar
    Kelly Messner 7/05/2025 5:36 AM
    • Educator 🧠
    The most eye opening fact I learned about the limits of recycling is that soft plastic might claim to be recyclable on the package but in fact are not recyclable. There's not a lot of regulation controlling what companies say about how their products are marketing themselves in their recycle ability. They're also is not a lot of regulation regarding how things are packaged. Going forward I am going to really try and reuse or reduce before I purchase a product. It is very frustrating to know that so much of what people think they are recycling ends up in a landfill. I really like the idea of giving people an incentive to recycle appropriately, and starting a campaign highlighting the importance of reusing products rather than trashing them.

    • Brandon Regan's avatar
      Brandon Regan 7/13/2025 9:26 AM
      • Book Lover 📚
      Valid point! I have found it interesting that the healthier the food, the better the packaging is for the environment. Even my Protein Powder will have specific labels-while not recyclable themselves-that can be taken off of the packaging so the larger containers can go in the recycling bin. I guess a healthy body=healthy planet!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What surprised you the most about the health impacts of plastic exposure, and how might this new understanding influence the choices you make around food storage and everyday products?

    Kelly Messner's avatar
    Kelly Messner 7/03/2025 5:38 AM
    • Educator 🧠
    I just assumed the packaging food came in was tested. I was shocked at how much of the packaging is not tested or is tested but still leaks dangerous chemicals into our food.

  • Kelly Messner's avatar
    Kelly Messner 7/03/2025 5:11 AM
    • Educator 🧠
    I want to be more aware of how much plastic we are using and learn how to reduce it. I want to instill these lessons in my kids too.