Name: Danielle

Week: 13

Personal Info:

We are collecting our plastic trash for all of 2011. Read about our family on my Week 1 post.

Blog: It Starts With Me

Total items: 15

Total weight: 4.1 oz.

Items: Recyclable

We have recycling pick up at our home. We use our service mainly for paper and glass.

1 Ketchup bottle (#1)

Items: Nonrecyclable

2 Gardein packages

4 milk jug caps

1 ring from milk jug caps

2 tags (from broccoli)

1 lid from mayo (glass jar… will reuse)

2 sticker wraps (from organic bananas)

1 bag (from crackers)

What items can I replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?

I can make my own mayo, but honestly… I’m not there yet.  I’m trying to focus on our most used products and a jar of mayo goes pretty far in our house.  I’ll commit to making it one day 🙂

Bananas:  Since starting the plastic challenge, bananas are one thing that I’ve felt comfortable buying “conventional” because they’re not on the “list” to buy organic.  But… I recently watched a video about the conventional farming practices in Costa Rica and I decided to get the organic bananas wrapped in plastic tape despite trying to avoid plastics.  I normally purchase organic free-trade (plastic-free!!) bananas from Tidal Creek (my local co-op), but I was out of bananas and my kids begged.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?

Crackers…though, I’m working on learning to make all sorts of crackers.  This bag was from another moment of kids begging!!  I’ve figured out how to make ritz crackers, wheat thins, graham crackers… now I just need to learn to make chocolate bunny grahams!! 😉

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

Same as last week… produce.  I am so looking forward to the Farmers Market reopening, the start of my CSA and my garden!!  Produce will be plastic-free soon!!! 😀

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

I’m working on the lifestyle changes… I’ll get there… it’s just going to take time.  (and convincing my kids!!!)

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

Milk… I’m going to try my hardest not to purchase milk.  Making almond milk to replace cow’s milk this week!!

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?

… I know that my biggest obstacles (and biggest strengths) to going plastic-free are my 3 children.  They challenge me to find alternatives to the things they have grown to enjoy… it would be (fairly) easy for me to go without all of the plastic in the photo… but having my 3 kids (and husband) share in this challenge  makes it that much more rewarding because WE are ALL learning so much 🙂