How can I reduce the plastic bags you use to put spices, nuts, raisins, etc.?

Location:  Oakley, CA, United States

Name: Cristal Raygoza

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Im a part time student and work part time as a nurse assistant. I live with my dad, step-mom, my two sisters and one younger brother.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)

I didn’t really refuse any. I rally wanted to see how much plastics I really throw away.

Total items collected: 47

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
2 sandwich bags, 2 utensils packages, 2 forks, spoon, 8 cup lids, 3 straws, bowl, cereal bag, 6 water bottles, 2 sauce containers, 1 starbucks cup, 2 starbuck wrappers, 8 plastic grocery bags, 1 medication bottle, hand sanitizer bottle.

Items: Nonrecyclable
Everything but the water bottles. Theres really no place to recycle the rest.

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I can replace the cup lids which were from coffee cups with coffee mugs and making my coffee at home. I should also carry the reusable grocery bags in my car so I don’t use any plastic grocery bags. I can replace water bottles with reusable water bottles, even no plastic reusable water bottles like tin bottles.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
I would be willing to give up candy and starbucks pre made drinks that use plastic wrappings.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
I think all items are able to be plastic free.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Making more home-made things like my morning coffee, bringing reusable plastic bags, and eating out. Most food consumed outside the home is packaged by plastic.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
water bottles

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
This challenge was a huge eye opener to how much plastics I really use. I use plastic for almost everything! We definitely need to come up with materials to replace plastic but it goes further to the need for us to understand that we need things to be reusable and not disposable.