Maxwell Morey

Nature

My connection to nature has changed due to my limited mobility. There are certain outdoor activities that are very difficult for me to pursue and others that feel impossible. But this has changed my appreciation for nature in a positive way and helps me remember all the places I’ve been. I daydream of escaping to unfamiliar parts of the world. I envision myself being far away from home and exploring the unknown. Until then I take time to slow down and reflect on how fortunate I am to live where I do. It’s enough for me to lie in a quiet space outside while I listen to the wind.

Consumerism

At this time of my life and over the last several years I really haven’t bought things for myself. The majority of clothes I have are from thrift stores and I keep clothing for a very long time. I don’t collect things or make attempts to have the latest gadgets. It takes a special purpose or reason for me to buy things in general. But where I consume the most is how I spend money on food. For a long time I dined out constantly and rarely cooked full meals at home. I’ve slowly made changes to break this habit for different reasons, but reducing how much I spend at restaurants will be ongoing. The obvious change is time management and developing cooking skills to be less reliant on going out for food. Another thing I’ll do will be attempting to only eat out during social situations. So far this week I’ve been successful in buying groceries and only eating at home.

Transportation

Things have changed in my life and certain transportation options aren't available for me...yet! In the past I would ride my bicycle all over the city and walk up and down popular streets. I'd take the bus or train depending on the distance or weather. As of today my routine is currently more manageable by driving my car to the gym and different appointments. Using public transit would create hassles that I really don't want in my life right now, but what I can do is make better preparations on how I drive. My goal is to reduce the amount I drive by combining weekly appointments into a single day. Also creating a linear path of where I drive to and attempting to complete as many errands as I can along the way.

Community

I've known about the Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection community for a little over a year, but have been hesitant to get involved. For this challenge I'm breaking out of my comfort zone and plan to meet with this community. I've joined their mailing list and will attend a group event on 7/27/26. During my recovery I've had a lot help, so part of getting involved with this group is to better understand how I can give back to others in similar circumstances. I also want to be involved in this community to learn more about different options I have for recreational activities.

Water

I again tuned into the podcast "Sustainability Defined", but this time on an episode about water infrastructure. The hosts enjoy the numbers behind the information so I'll start with some infrastructure stats. They focus more on the USA since they live there.

1) The USA drinking water infrastructure system is made up of 2.2 million miles of underground pipes. Water mains account for 1.2 million miles, which is about 26 miles of water main for each mile of interstate highway.

2) A water main break occurs every two minutes. This equals an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water lost each day. This is approximately 9000 swimming pools worth of water.

3) Each person uses about 82 gallons of water per day.

4) 39 billion gallons of water are withdrawn daily from surface water or ground water sources for public supply. Public supply use represents about 12% of total fresh water withdrawal.

5) The ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) in 2020 found that over the next 20 years it will take over 3.2 trillion dollars to be invested to fix our water infrastructure. There are also additional costs to comply with the EPA's lead and copper rule that is estimated to be between 130-280 million dollars.

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But there is good news. Over half of all utility companies report decrease in water sales due to improved infrastructure. The utility companies are also developing in depth asset management programs to help prioritize operations and maintenance investments. These companies are also updating their risk assessment and emergency response plans. They are improving the technology used to monitor water quality.

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And released on June 26th, 2026 is the seventh consecutive Water Resources Development Act, which will further address the water infrastructure in the USA. This is a bill designed to give Congress direct involvement in what is studied and implemented.

Food

This week has been an opportunity for me to learn about food waste through a podcast called "Sustainability Defined". The specific episode is about 10 years old, but the concepts apply as much today as they did then. The hosts break down the meaning and statistics of food waste, the concept of ugly produce, and how we can reduce food waste.

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They define "food waste" as a final product intended for human consumption but is removed from the human food chain for various reasons. This could be because the food was discarded or expired.

This is different from "food loss" which is food that is lost or spoiled during food supply chain before it's available for the consumer. This typically occurring during production, post harvest, processing, or during distribution.

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Going into stats on food we don't eat...

1) 1/3 of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted in production and consumption systems. This equates to approximately 1 trillion US dollars. Showing that 1/4 calories are never eaten.

2) The USA throws out 165 billion dollars of food each year. During Thanksgiving we throw out 282 million dollars of uneaten turkey. On average a family of four throws away 20 pounds of food per month, which equals about $1500 and 2 million calories per year.

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Ugly produce is referred to as Grade B Produce, and is most often rejected by farmers due to strict aesthetic standards of grocery stores. 20-30% of post harvest produce is considered "ugly". This accounts for 6 billion pounds of unsold or unharvested produce each year.

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They then speak about things we can do to reduce our food waste. Think. Eat. Save.

1) Be a smart shopper. Make lists, plan your meals, and buy less of what you don't typically eat.

2) Eat all of the food you purchase. Get creative with the unspoiled food left in your pantry.

3) Donating food you won't eat to food banks. Keeping food past the "best used by" date.

Energy

There are lots of ways I try to save energy, but when looking at a list it's obvious where my efforts are lacking. So I choose to start small and work my way to making big changes.

1) Turn off electronics

Most times I'm great about only using lights when I need them and appreciate using natural light as much as possible. But only now do I realize my issue with other electronics. It's become very normal for me to have my TV on in the background of whatever I'm doing. Whether I'm on my computer or scrolling through my phone, I also have some show on as a form of white noise. So I'm taking steps to correct this behavior by focusing on one screen at a time. I'll also measure my screen time per day and per week for a while to get a better understanding of how much I watch. I'll also unplug electronics/lights that aren't in use.

2) Cold water laundry

Another easy switch that has a big impact. I suppose I already knew about hot vs cold water washing, but I never took the time to educate myself on the difference in energy consumption. Hot water may be better for heavily soiled clothing but it also breaks down fabric faster than cold water does. For the most part my daily routine and lifestyle require a cold water wash. Not only will I save money and pollute less, but my clothes will last longer.

Waste

Looking at how to limit my waste I took note of things I already do. I use reusable bags and a reusable water bottle. I recycle and compost everything I can. I print double sided whenever possible.

Like many of us, an easy way to reduce my waste was to sign up for paperless billing and to opt out of junk mail. I'm guilty of being lazy to put in the effort, but happy to receive less mail if possible.

Another thing I chose to do is use a reusable mug for coffee or tea.

1) Paperless billing

About half of my bills were already paperless, so it was a simple task of tracking down rest and making the switch. Most could easily be switched online but one involving my car insurance was easier over the phone.

2) Junk mail

This task was more complicated and will probably be ongoing. Some junk mail can easily be opted out of, but the majority are designed to be relentless. The USPS suggests using a mail suppression service through www.dmachoice.org. The service currently costs $8.00 for 10 years and would be worth the price if it worked. I haven't purchased the service yet, but online reviews show that the junk mail doesn't completely stop. To make things more annoying, company specific mail must be canceled by directly contacting the company.

3) Reusable mug

I typically drink coffee or tea at home, but I am guilty of getting something to go at places like Dutch Bros. I already carry a reusable bottle for water so why not hot drinks? I was able to find a 16oz mug that I can now leave in my car for those moments when I want a drink to go. At most I'll save a cup a day, but it adds up!