Location:Tualatin, Oregon, United States

Name: Margaret

Week: 3

Personal Info:

I live in an apartment with my cat. We’re in a metropolitan area outside the city, that’s not really suburbia, but not really urban.

Margaret’s personal blog:

Total items: 49

Total weight: 16.5 ounces

Items: Recyclable
Curbside recyclable

Gelato container
Applesauce jar

Other recyclable

Cup from Starbucks
Cup and 2 plates – from a wedding
Lid from gelato container
Ice cube tray bag – it was the only option I could find to avoid making an extra shopping trip

Items: Nonrecyclable
6 Luna bar wrappers
Lid and straw from Starbucks
2 forks – also from the wedding
Lid from glass maple syrup bottle used up
3 string cheese wrappers
Plastic-lined pull strip from priority mail box – this contained envelopes made from magazine pages and more reusable snack bags from lkdDesigns.
Tape from the paper wrapping around the envelopes
2 lid plastic rings
Frozen waffles wrapper
Frozen spring rolls wrapper
Dandies vegan marshmallows bag
6 produce stickers (mostly from lemons)
Address label backing sheet
Plastic-lined paper cup – from Massage Envy post-massage
Lip gloss tube used up
Pull-strip from frozen juice concentrate
Hair band about to break
Torn nylon knee-high
Tea stirrer
Styrofoam takeout box .
Kitty litter bag

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Kitty litter – I finally found a source for Pine Litter, which comes in a cardbox box with just a plastic handle! I signed up to volunteer at a cat shelter, and they carry it in their store! I had bought it at Target, but they stopped carrying it, hence the Arm & Hammer plastic bagged litter.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Cheese – Portland Try Vegan Week starts in a week on the July 30th. I’m going to go vegan for the week, and we’ll see how it goes after that.

Luna bars – I plan to not buying more when I use up the current box.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Starbucks, cup, plates, and forks are from a wedding reception. I tried to minimize what I could, but the only durable item for food/drink was mugs for coffee. I used a mug initially, but then they passed out sparkling cider in plastic cups. I try to rub off on my friends… I have two friends who seem particularly receptive.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I’m working on avoiding sweets, both for health and plastic reasons.

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?