October 20, 2009
Green_grrl – Plastic Challenge (week 2)
Recyclable Items
- Plasticized milk carton (part of the curbside program but unsure how it’s recycled)
Non-recyclable Items
- plastic lined can (can is recyclable but the plastic lining isn’t
- plastic wrap from local cheese
- bag choc chips
- 1 piece saran wrap(was used to cover pie brought home from M&D’s)
- remains of a scrubber (used to wash dishes)
- two labels from local beauty products (came in glass jars)
- plastic top from sour cream
- sticker removed from brother’s guitar case (which I’ve adopted)
- top and security seal from vitamin bottle (glass)
- two cereal bags
- wrap from eye drop box and 4 eye droppers
- vitamin powder package
- top of cheese curd package
- misc plastic wrap (not sure what this is from)
- 3 plastic grocery bags (for garbage)
Total number of items = 25
Total weight of plastic stash = 4.75oz
Tally analysis
- What items could I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
*milk (could buy in glass)
*choc chips (could buy in bulk)
*saran wrap from pie (could have brought a container to M&Ds) - What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
*cereal (I could make my own granola) - How many of these items are from “convenience” foods that could be made from scratch with less packaging but might take more time to prepare?
*sour cream? - What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
*eye droppers. I hated using them but it was a bit of a necessity this week - What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
*make an effort to buy more food in bulk and maintain a good stockpile of food essentials to prevent last minute trips to our neighbourhood grocery store (which doesn’t have any bulk food). E.g. choc chips - What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
*non-bulk choc chips - What did I do this week to avoid plastic?
*Make cookies from scratch
*Buy soap wrapped in paper
*Brought my lunch to work most days and on days I didn’t bought lunch from the deli that sells sandwich wrapped in paper.