Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Cindy T

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I’m a college student living on campus.

Cindy T’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
A few plastic bags at the store.

Total items collected: 8

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
2 Salsa Containers w/ Lid (#1); curbside recycling collection
1 Plastic Bag (#2); curbside recycling collection

Items: Nonrecyclable
2 Disposable Contact Lens Containers
1 Candy Wrapper
1 Pastry Wrapper
1 Jerky Wrapper

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
When eating out, avoid buying take-out or fast food in order to not get plastic containers or bags for my food. Buy fresh pastries and not the plastic wrapped ones.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
The candy and jerky since they’re not the most filling or healthy foodstuff.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
The disposable contact lens containers.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Eating out less and avoiding packaged snack items as much as possible. I could bring food to eat in reusable containers.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Any candy wrapped in plastic.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Avoiding plastic consumption is difficult but it could also bring side benefits like a healthier living diet wise. Though there is a point where not using plastic is not an option since so much of the products and food items available for purchase nowadays are packaged in plastic.