Hannah Williams

My one-time challenge was not exactly successful because I did not get the chance to actually talk to the owners of my apartment complex before the corona virus sort of ended the semester.. I have done some research and would like to explain some of the benefits of implementing a recycling program at my apartment complex, and also some of the logistics for how exactly I would do this. The first benefit is it would lower trash pickup costs. The amount of waste being thrown in the trash bins would decrease, which means less frequent trips the trash truck needs to make to our building. This will cut waste removal costs, and may even free up enough space to switch to a smaller size dumpster. It can also create an additional revenue source for the owners because they can sell certain recyclables in the Knoxville area. The third benefit is the obvious one, recycling saves space in landfills and reduces overall waste. It pains me to throw away things that I know can be recycled, and I think a lot of my fellow residents will support this initiative as well. Apartment recycling programs can also help attract and keep tenants by providing an eco-friendly amenity, keeping the complex cleaner, and encouraging a sense of community among residents. 
Now that I have outlined some of the benefits from a recycling program, I am now going to address how exactly I would accomplish implementing such a program. The first step is to find a recycling service for my building. We could use the trash service we currently use most likely for a discounted price. Next is to place the recycling bins in an easily accessible area, and make sure that directions are very obvious so everything is in the right place and broken down correctly. We currently have rooms that have trash chutes in them, so I think this is the perfect location to either switch one of the chutes to recycling or place a large recycling dumpster inside the room. I think it would also promote recycling if the complex provided personal recycling bins to each room so residents can easily separate trash and recycling. The third step is to announce the program to residents and get everyone involved and excited to take part in recycling. Last but not least, educational material should be provided to all residents to make sure everyone knows what can be recycled, and how it should be recycled. They should know what needs to be separated, broken down, and rinsed out.
After doing this research, I am actually really bummed I did not get the chance to actually try to implement this at my apartment complex. I am living in a different complex next semester, so I am considering trying to do this next year as they do not offer recycling either.

Making changes in my diet was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, and it was hard to break habits of eating not only meat, but dairy and other animal byproducts. Through this experience I have discovered what brands have vegan options, and what stores I should visit to find them. I have a newly formed respect for vegans and vegetarians and how much discipline it takes, and I have chosen to continue this challenge into the future.

Once I got further along in the challenge, it became more difficult to say no to sausage or eggs for breakfast on the weekends or when I went home. Some days I could not check off the daily challenge on here, and others I did so well I wanted to make a vegan meal for dinner too. It took me longer than 21 days to complete the challenge, but it was worth it to see how difficult it can be to eat vegan, especially when eating out at a restaurant. 

At the beginning of my daily challenge, it was easy to choose vegan options for breakfast and lunch. While at school, I usually get up and eat breakfast and pack something small for lunch. I usually ate oatmeal or cereal anyways, so I just kept this up and bought Lactaid instead of regular milk. I would then choose some sort of fruit or veggie, such as applesauce or some peppers, to bring along with me to class. This was my regular routine for the first week or so of the challenge.