Why is it necessary to reduce plastic waist that is recyclable? I dont feel any problem using plastic containers or bottles.

Location:  Antioch, CA, United States

Name: Branden Virden

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Full time college student at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA. Part time Process Server. Exercise 5 days a week, drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
I refused any plastic bags because when i go shopping at Costco they use cardboard boxes to package food items that have been purchased.

Total items collected: 53

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
45 Plastic Water Bottles, 7 plastic joint juice bottles, 1 plastic personal sized orange juice bottle.

Items: Nonrecyclable
None.

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I could purchase a reusable plastic or metal water bottle. The only problem i have with that is i dont like to taste of tap water, refrigerator water and most filtered water. Thats why i drink Purified Water in the bottle.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
I would be willing to give up smaller plastic bottles if there was good source of water that did not taste odd.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
None of these items are absolutely essential, it is just what i prefer.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
One day i might have to switch to a reusable water bottle, i drink more than a gallon of water a day.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Im willing to stop using so many water bottles and switch to buying gallon jugs of water.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?