Name: Emily

Week: 2

Personal Info:

See full description in Emily’s Week 1 Plastic Trash tally.

Total items: 8

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
– 1 Straus Yogurt container (#5)
– 2 Straus milk lids (#4)
– 2 plastic windows in envelopes
– 1 salad dressing container (#2)
– 1 8 x 8″ thin piece of plastic from the butcher department (not pictured)

Items: Nonrecyclable
– 1 crochet hook package

What items can I replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Hopefully this will be the last yogurt container that I have to purchase as I was successful at making my own yogurt this week.

I ordered a salad for lunch at a restaurant and it came with the plastic holder for the salad dressing. I will not being ordering salad there any longer.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Hmmmm… I think there are lots of items as far as food goes and I’ve already given up a lot, including organic bacon.

This is a hard question because there are so many things, it is easy to lose track.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Still doing a lot of organizing to make being plastic free easier. And a lot of meal planning. This week I made granola bars (all ingredients from bulk) for snacks throughout the week. This was an item my partner couldn’t give up but we like our homemade ones much better than store bought anyways.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I’m not sure. I still have a lot of plastic in my life, but none that I’m really adding into my life. I figure as I run out of products that are currently in plastic that I will at that time switch to alternatives. I’m actually excited to try using solid shampoo.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
At first I was a little overwhelmed by this challenge, but now I’m feeling better and realizing that I don’t have to give up all plastic cold turkey.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I’m still trying to figure out what to do as far as getting new glasses or contact lenses. I usually get plastic frames, but guess I should do some more shopping for alternatives.