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Plastic Challenge: Emily Stollmeyer, Week 1
How do we reduce plastic waste for bathroom products? I feel like everything I do in the bathroom requires plastic…
Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States
Name: Emily Stollmeyer
Week: 1
Personal Info:
I’m a 20 yr old Marine Biology college student. I work in a restaurant where I eat as many as half of my meals there per week. I live off campus with 4 other college students. I’m doing the Docent Class at the Seymour Center this year. :D
Emily Stollmeyer’s personal blog:
List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
Multiple grocery bags (I already use reusable ones).
Plastic drink cups at my work.
Water Bottles (I reuse water bottles/soda bottles)
Total items collected: 37
Total weight: n/a
Items: Recyclable
1 Strawberry container – 1
1 Raspberry container – 1
1 Take – out box – 6
2 Plastic bags – 2
1 Toilet paper bag – 4
2 Shampoo/conditioner containers – 1
2 Greenware cups – 7
1 Condiment Container – 5
1 Condiment Container lid – 1
1 Yogurt cup – 5
1 Plastic fork – 7
1 Greenware Lid – 7
Items: Nonrecyclable
2 plastic wrappers (frozen veggie patty & fortune cookie)
1 wildwood pasta slim container
1 plastic bag gift wrap
2 pieces of saran wrap
1 plastic lid wrapper
1 ranch container
2 candy wrappers
1 pair of gloves from work
1 Gillette shaver
1 gift card
1 straw
1 boxed drink plug
1 gift ribbon
1 swiffer pad
What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Plastic bags
Condiment containers (just used the condiments I have at home)
saran wrap – used a reusable container
choose products that have less plastic wrapping
What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Take out
candy
swiffers
What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
bathroom items such as shampoo/soap/shavers
What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
eat at home more often
What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
try to eliminate all plastic bags/cups
What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Read all posts by: California,Santa Cruz Seymour Center,United States
Tags: plastic bags, plastic challenge, plastic cling wrap, plastic containers, plastic lids, plastic packaging, plastic straws, plastic trash, plastic utensils, plastic waste, plastic wrappers
Welcome Emily! It's so great to see young folks getting on board - gives us more hope for the future. Bathroom products are surprisingly easy to reduce. You can find shampoo & conditioner in bulk at some local health food stores (New Leaf is one in your area) or use a shampoo bar like Lush or J.R. Liggett. As for shavers, I followed Beth's lead and bought a metal double-edge vintage Gillette razor with stainless steel blades for refills. Makes me feel like I'm shaving in a 50's movie and I love the weight of it. Just search this blog for the things you want to replace, and I guarantee you'll find a plastic-free alternative that someone's written about. Good luck!