Name: Kiyomi Smothermon

Week: 3

Personal Info:

See our Week 1 tally for personal info about us.

Total items: 24

Total weight: 8.2oz

Items: Recyclable
Tennis string reel case (#1)
Hair dye conditioner (#2)

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 set of cut up tennis racket strings
1 Kettle chip bag
1 Kalua Pork(fundraising item) package
1 Individual bonito flake package
1 Soba noodle tie
1 Label from a reusable glass jar
1 TP packaging bag
1 small piece of plastic wrap
1 Salt package
1 piece of tape that was on a card board box package we received
2 contact lens wrapping
A broken planter tray
4 planter labels
1 PVC tube remnant (I think a plumber left it in the yard)
1 seal from PB jar lid
1 broken ear phone
4 misc. torn up plastic pieces from some sort of bags

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
Hopefully we will resist chips in plastic bags in the future.

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

TP >> After the supply I already have, I will only buy TPs in paper wrapping.

Hair dye contiditier bottle >> this is from previous coloring that was found in the bath room. I now go to an organic salon where henna is used for dye. I love it! It’s healthier for me too. I have to ask how much plastic packaging she ends up with, but I believe it is much better that she buys in large quantities than my individual packaging.

Salt tube >> yikes! It’s over packaged. I found a store that sells salt in bulk, so I will take my

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?

No more buying plants in plastic planters with plastic labels. Instead, I will commit to probagating and growing from seeds. Scary thought, but I will try and see if I can do it.

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

This week might be tough because I will be traveling. It will be a big test for my husband and I know he will be consiencious but he is not as committed as I am. (He is just cooperative for me.)

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?

I watched a documentary ‘Trash Inc.’ this week, and was very discouraged. Huge amount of ocean debris are coming from East Asian countries to Hawaii. The effort has to be global. I will search to see if there is any global effort that has started in a organized way, and see if I can contribute to that in any way.