Location:, North Carolina, United States

Name: Danielle

Week: 53

Personal Info:

Family of 5.

Collecting my plastic waste for 52 weeks. See week 1 post for more info :)

Danielle’s personal blog: http://itstartswithme-danielle.blogspot.com

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
I made potato chips!

Total items collected: 19

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
none

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 bag (arborio rice)
1 gardein package
1 plastic wrap (parmesan)
1 wrap (sausage)
7 caps/rings (milk in glass jugs)
3 cap/seal/spout (peanut oil)
2 produce ties
3 seals (ice cream)
1 battery package

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Batteries: We use rechargeable batteries. This is from an old pack.

Parmesan: Plan ahead and always get it from my co-op wrapped in paper.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Peanut oil: If I make chips again, I will just use canola oil that I can get in bulk.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Arborio rice: I hadn’t made risotto in over a year because I couldn’t find it without plastic :( An intense craving for risotto hit me and I made the decision to buy it. I LOVE risotto immensely. I plan on asking my co-op to carry it.

Sausage: My daughter eats sausage and I buy it for her from time to time. I don’t know a way around the plastic.

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?

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?