Janet Simpkinson

Faith Communities Go Green BPEcochallenge 2025

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
262 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

290

minutes

spent learning

Janet's actions

First Steps: Start with You

Learn how plastic is made

Understanding the origins of plastic helps us see its environmental impact more clearly. I will spend 30 minutes learning how plastic is made — from fossil fuels to finished product — and reflect on how that knowledge influences my choices.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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 40 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

Check recycling near me

Recycling rules vary by location. I’ll spend 45 minutes learning which plastics my local program accepts. This helps me avoid “wishcycling” — tossing items in the bin and hoping they’ll be recycled, even if they aren’t.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

First Steps: Start with You

Explore plastic’s impact on communities

Plastic pollution doesn’t affect everyone equally. I will spend 45 minutes learning how plastic production, use, and disposal harm communities — especially those near waste sites.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

Janet Simpkinson 7/11/2025 3:40 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I look forward to learning more the situation/challenge every day

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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

What did you discover about recycling and waste management in your area that more people should know? How might you share that knowledge?
Janet Simpkinson 7/10/2025 5:16 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I post Tips on behalf of our church's Creation Care Team in our church's weekly ENews. Today I learned a lot of tips about recycling that will be shared in the ENews.

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Janet Simpkinson 7/09/2025 4:46 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I wonder how many loads of recyclables my spouse and I have contaminated because we have wishfully put incorrect or not-completely -clean items in our green recycle bin.

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- Fred Desai 7/21/2025 10:34 PM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  Sadly, the reco is
  
  When in doubt throw it out.
  
  Wron or unclean items in the recycling bin create a lot of hassles for the recycler. Sometimes an entire batch has to be thrown out if it goes not meet the quality specs.
  
  I would strongly recommend that u visit the Rumpke recycling facility. It is a 1-2 hour tour. U will learn a lot.
  
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- Nicholas Monak 7/09/2025 5:17 PM
  - Book Lover 📚
  This got me too. I've now learned that experts likely throw more things away than wishcyclers.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

How do these different materials shift your sense of what’s truly “sustainable” — and what’s just marketing? Are bioplastics accepted by your city's waste management?
Janet Simpkinson 7/09/2025 3:01 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
As companies begin to capitalize on marketing biodegradable products, the consumer has the responsibility of learning what is involved in the term "biodegradable". Once we are educated, we can make reasonable choices that benefit the earth, nature, and hamanity.
I do not think that bioplastics are acceptable to Rumpke in Cincinnati.

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Janet Simpkinson 7/06/2025 7:42 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
My son in law, who grew up in California, has been sorting and recycling since he was a child. I, on the other hand, did not begin to recycle at the Hub until after I retired from business last year. I have been a life-long Cincinnatian and throughout my long life I have been totally unaware of the reasons for recycling and its benefits. My dear thanks go to OLLI and the Environmental Action Group of the Womens' City Club. Both are extremely enlightening.

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- Janelle Uy 7/07/2025 2:38 AM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  - Educator 🧠
  Glad you have these communities to help support with these lifestyle changes! Awareness really is the first step to mindfulness.
  
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Janet Simpkinson 7/05/2025 5:17 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I was aware of the health concerns over "forever chemicals" but the articles on health issues concerning microplastics are actually scary.

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- Erin Gately 7/06/2025 6:55 AM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  - Plant Parent 🪴
  Agreed. I went to a sustainability focused medical conference (CleanMed) last year and there was a panel of doctors saying they were finding microplastics in people's organs and that it was linked to disease and death. This is no joke.
  
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Janet Simpkinson 7/04/2025 4:08 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
Shopping at Walmart this afternoon, I was surprisingly aware of the staggering amount of plastic that the store sells.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
First Steps: Start with You

How does understanding the origin of plastic change the way you think about using it in everyday life?
Janet Simpkinson 7/03/2025 4:07 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I am happy to be a participant at the Recycling Hub and happy to understand the various classes of plastics and that the composition of each class determines how or if it is to be recylcled/repurposed.

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Janet Simpkinson 7/03/2025 2:41 PM
- Earth Advocate 📣
I joined in order to learn more about best practices for saving the environment.

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