Plastic Challenge: Danielle, Week 21
Location:, North Carolina, United States
Name: Danielle
Week: 21
Personal Info:
We are collecting our plastic trash for all of 2011. Read about our family on my Week 1 post.
Danielle’s personal blog: http://itstartswithme-danielle.blogspot.com
Total items: 14
Total weight: 3.8 oz
Items: Recyclable
1 Dip container (#5)
1 Lid from cocoa (#4)
2 yogurt cups (#5)
1 Heavy cream bottle (#2)
Items: Nonrecyclable
1 Chip bag
1 milk jug cap
1 ring from milk jug cap
1 plastic seal
2 gardein packages
1 plastic seal/covering (from the dip)
2 contact lens containers
What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Yogurt. Having not committed to making my own yogurt, I usually purchase the large containers of yogurt. My kids must be having a peach craving because they wanted it BAD!! :)
Chips & Dip: We haven’t bought chips and dip in over 8 months!! By not purchasing as often we’re reducing the amount of plastic we use. Next step would be to make our own chips and dip.
What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Hmmm… dip. Definitely don’t buy it often. I have made it, but even recipes to make homemade french onion dip produce plastic waste.
What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Contact lenses.
Cocoa powder. I use it when I make homemade cakes, cookies, etc. I thought I could buy it in bulk, but I can’t find it.
What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Chips and dip, yogurt, and heavy cream.
What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
At the beginning of last week, I was reading one of my favorite blogs. While reading the blogpost, I immediately thought of this challenge and how I’ve taken on this whole process of reducing single use disposable plastics from our lives. It’s an awesome endeavor… BUT.. Collecting our plastic waste for the entire year, puts me in this constant state of “ack… I don’t want to buy that! It’ll add to our tally. What will people say?? If I use that, am I a hypocrite??”