Name: Becca Ryals and Gordon Bennett

Week: 11

Personal Info:

Read Becca and Gordon’s full description in their Week 1 Challenge post.

Blog: http://becca.posterous.com

Total items: 13

Total weight: 3.6 ounces  (0.29 ounces new, 3.32 ounces old)

Items: Recyclable
None

Items: Nonrecyclable

(new)

• two condiment cups from Pollos
• three envelope windows
• label to spring onions
• wrapper around canola oil (glass bottle)
• spout to toothpaste

(old)

• bag of Yerba Matte tea
• pump soap bottle
• Neutrogena face cleanser
• Bag for cat litter
• floss

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?

-2 condiment cups from one of my favorite lunch spots. We are regulars and really appreciate the friendly service. The salsa usually comes in little plastic cups, but they have been serving it to us in ceramic dishes. The day we went happened to be super busy, and they forgot. Our tallies seem to have a lot of “accidental” plastics associated with eating out. This implies that we must (a) have a better way of asking for no plastics, and (b) eat out less. We love Pollo’s so we probably will continue to eat there.

-bag of Yerba Matte tea: Eco Teas also makes Yerba Matte in a 100% compostable bag, and at least three nearby grocery stores and tea shops carry it in bulk.

-pump soap bottle: Bar soaps work just fine.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?

Pump soap. Well, we have two more that we are still using up, but its all soap bars after that.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?

-3 envelope windows: Envelope windows make me bonkers. Two of these windows are solicitations from the Commonweath Club to become members, but they mostly communicate via email. The other was from Comcast. ARG! I have already called them asking to stop the mailing. We are already customers and have paperless billing. The most insulting this about the Comcast mail is that it is addressed to “current resident.”

-Neutrogena face cleanser: I had a difficult time convincing Gordon that he does not need his plastic container of toxic face cleanser. We talked for a while about alternatives (I found a website with a whole bunch of make-it-yourself face cleanser recipes!). We settled on a bar of face soap by Aveeno, which came in a box. However, it had a thin plastic wrap over the bar itself. A good compromise, but I still want to convince him to try a homemade applelicious or baking soda lemon exfoliating skin cleanser.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Our tallies seem to have a lot of “accidental” plastics associated with eating out. This implies that we must (a) have a better way of asking for no plastics, and (b) eat out less. We love Pollo’s so we probably will continue to eat there.

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

Question:

I found a few toothpowder recipes online. Has anyone had any luck (good or bad) with homemade toothpaste?