I’ve finished my last plastic-wrapped block of cheese for a while. I’m not saying I won’t ever buy cheese again. But I am going to cut back significantly, to spare the plastic and also my cholesterol count. It’s okay. As you’ve seen from my recipes (and will continue to see) we eat very well without it. So, let’s get started with the weekly tally.

Items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:

• 1 plastic lid from a metal can of curry powder. As I use up my containers of spices, I replace the spices from the bulk jars at Whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl, or Rainbow Grocery.
• 1 32-oz bottle of Albertson’s white vinegar and 1 plastic cap. The bottle is #1 PETE plastic and is recyclable in Oakland. The cap is not recyclable. Both bottle and cap will go into my plastic collection, however. I’ve since switched to Spectrum Organics distilled white vinegar ^[1] (for general household cleaning) in a glass bottle.

Now for the new plastic waste:

• 4 Refresh Endura single-use eye drop containers.
• 1 plastic cork from a bottle of Rosenblum Cellars red wine ^[2]. This bottle was brought over by friends for the lentil loaf dinner ^[3]. I’ve since recycled the bottle and can’t remember what varietal it was. Doesn’t matter. I believe all Rosenblum’s wines come with plastic corks.
• 1 wrapper from a block of Grafton Village 4-year old cheddar. Good-bye cheese. I’ll try not to miss you too much.
• 6 inches of packing tape from a package delivered to me this week. This was an EarthPak ^[4] hip pack I ordered many months ago. More on this item and apparently troubled company in a future post.

So, what’s the most difficult thing you guys have given up for environmental or socially responsible reasons? Did you give it up completely or do you indulge every once in a while? Is there something that you enjoy too much to ever give up, or to give up right now?