Sustainable goals are a good category to have for the new year, and April Hepokoski can help with some ideas.

She founded Zero Waste Duluth, an online group that encourages each other to find eco-friendly solutions and make sustainable changes.

Hepokoski recommended three levels of goals to create:

• Simple steps to get started
  • Bring reusable bags to the store
  • Carry your own reusable water bottle
  • Turn down straws at restaurants
• Continue your sustainable journey
  • Shop secondhand and at your own home before buying new
  • Assign one day a week as “Leftovers Day”
  • Buy food, soap, lotion, etc. in bulk in your own containers
• Sustainability challenges
  • Start a garden and grow your own food
  • Repair a torn piece of clothing
  • Compost your food scraps and organic material