Terry Murphy

Community Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
100 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

plastic item

avoided
UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning

Terry'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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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

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 15 minutes learning why plastic recycling falls short and what really happens to plastic waste.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Understand plastic labels

Those recycling numbers and symbols can be confusing. I will spend 30 minutes learning what different plastic labels mean, including what can and can’t be recycled, to make more informed choices when I shop.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

Terry Murphy 7/11/2025 11:51 AM
Calculated my plastic use and while I am below the average American, there is still much to do. I tried another calculator which asked me different questions so my weak spots were apparent.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

What do you think the confusion around plastic labels says about our waste systems — and how could they be improved? What role do you think clear labeling should play in helping people make better choices — and who should be responsible for that?
Terry Murphy 7/07/2025 12:53 PM
People assume if they throw it in recycling it will be taken care of. The chasing arrows can mean zip ... clear labeling should be mandatory. The manufacturers should be clear about it. Each town and city should have a sticker on their bins reminding people of what can and can not go into bins. AND consumers need to be aware that when purchasing items made from recycled material they are helping.

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Terry Murphy 7/06/2025 9:00 AM
Looked up my town's plastic recycling and it's 1, 2, and 5 emphasizing that black plastic is not allowed. A lot of people apparently don't believe that as I see it filling recycling bins. If I see plastic bags or bubble wrap sticking out of people's bins, I've been known to remove it and put it in the trash. That's the beauty of walking your dog at 5:30 in the morning.

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Terry Murphy 7/04/2025 5:29 AM
During my investigation of neighboring markets, I learned this: the sale of non-sparkling, unflavored drinking water in single-use plastic bottles of 1 liter (34 ounces) or less is prohibited in Lexington, MA, starting January 1, 2025. My wife ended up buying this.

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- Christine Kitch 7/04/2025 6:15 AM
  - Adventurer 🏔
  Whoa. I can’t see South Carolina going for this but that’s a huge population cut from the supply chain!
  
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Terry Murphy 7/03/2025 6:41 AM
Today I refilled my soap containers from either concentrates (Method) or large refill containers. I also buy trash bags from Thrive Market that are made from 100 percent reclaimed plastic. Not the best solution? Our town insists on plastic bags, however, I still sneak in my paper trash bags and since we compost via a paid service, we are probably doing slightly better than a lot of folks.

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Terry Murphy 7/01/2025 7:45 AM
I want to better understand what plastics are truly recycled in my community. I recently learned my aseptic plant-milk packages are not recycled nor is black plastic. Eliminating all plastic is not possible in my world. Thinking mindfully about every thing I touch, buy and use works in some areas. Basically, I am playing the end game. OK. I buy it but how do I responsibly dispose of it when I am done? If there's no plan, my goal is to not buy.

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- Terry Murphy 7/01/2025 10:49 AM
  Sunny ... yes, fruit in plastic containers. Ugh. Only when I get them at the Farmers Market can I buy them in the paper containers. Unfortunately due to two factors (no car and a blind spouse) I am often forced to use a delivery service. I need to confirm what our town accepts, but even then, I am not convinced it gets recycled. During summer months, I can get to the Farmers Market more often. Once it ends in the fall, however, it's back to plastic if we want to eat berries. Note: we use a food rescue service called Misfits/Imperfect foods, which I would like to believe balances out our waste, albeit plastic is plastic and in reality there's no balance there.
  
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- Sunny W 7/01/2025 8:18 AM
  I am right with you on choosing not to buy items if the packaging cannot be recycled. My biggest quandary is the containers that hold items such as blueberries and strawberries. Our transfer station used to take up to #7 plastic but now only 1&2.
  
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