Location:Oakland, California, United States

Name: Beth Terry

Week: 21

Personal Info:

I am the founder of MyPlasticfreeLife.com and have been collecting my plastic and attempting to live as plastic-free as possible since June of 2007.

See my previous years’ tallies at:
/category/beths-weeklymonthly-plastic-tallies/

Beth Terry’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
Plastic cups, bottles, bags, produce bags, and more…

Total items collected: 6

Total weight: 1.2 oz

Items: Recyclable
None

Items: Nonrecyclable
1-2) Packing tape from 2 cases of Plastic-Free books.

3-4) Packing slip pouches from 2 cases of Plastic-Free books.

I explain the packing tape and packing slip pouches in my post about receiving my books here: /2012/05/compost-this-book-but-first-check-out-how-cool-it-is/. Read below for further explantion.

5) One plastic envelope window. Read about what envelope windows are made from: /2009/04/year-2-week-42-results-05-oz-of-plastic/

6) Piece of tape — don’t remember the source.

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I have asked my publishing company to skip the plastic pouch. I don’t need a packing slip, since they email me the invoice. They have agreed not to include the plastic pouch for future shipments.

I have also asked the person who sent the window envelope to send envelopes without windows in the future, and he has agreed.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
None

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
The plastic packing tape does not have an alternative, unfortunately, because the books have all been packed up by the printer, so that horse has already left the barn. If we do a second printing, I will request plastic-free tape, but for the rest of this year, as long as I sell books, I am going to have plastic packaging tape in my tallies. *Sigh*