Skip to main content
Heather Reese's avatar

Heather Reese

External Affairs Core Team

"Reduce, Reuse and Recycle"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 30 THIS WEEK
  • 396 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    33
    ideas
    shared
  • UP TO
    245
    minutes
    spent learning

Heather's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Understand plastic labels

Those recycling numbers and symbols can be confusing. I will spend 15 minutes learning what different plastic labels mean, including what can and can’t be recycled, to make more informed choices when I shop.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY 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 10 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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

Learn about community-level options to reduce plastic

Widespread change starts with local action and community innovation. I will spend 10 minutes learning about programs or initiatives in my area that reduce plastic use, such as third-party sanitization services, repair cafes, food gleaning, lending libraries, bulk or thrift stores, bans on single-use items, or zero-waste businesses.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

First Steps: Start with You

Design my grocery routine for less plastic

Our grocery habits are one of the biggest sources of single-use plastic, from packaging on produce to plastic bags and containers. I will spend 10 minutes researching low-plastic shopping strategies and make a list of things to look for or do differently the next time I go to the store.

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • 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?

    Heather Reese's avatar
    Heather Reese 7/03/2025 8:46 AM
    All the chemicals used in the process of making plastic.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    First Steps: Start with You
    What’s one change to your grocery habits that felt more manageable than expected — or harder than expected? Why do you think some products, like produce, started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

    Heather Reese's avatar
    Heather Reese 7/03/2025 8:44 AM
    Reuseable grocery bags when shopping.
  • 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?

    Heather Reese's avatar
    Heather Reese 7/02/2025 9:31 AM

    Know what the numbers mean on the chasing arrow label.