Location:, California, United States

Name: Diane Backman

Week: 1

Personal Info:

My husband and I are retired and living in Santa Cruz CA and I am in training to become a docent at the Seymour Center/LML

Diane Backman’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
mayonnaise jar
margarita mix bottle
coffee mate jar
9 plastic produce bags
1 plastic fork
yogurt container
plastic cases for batteries
2 cheese wrappers
tortilla wrapper
3 zip lock bags
6 K-cups for coffee
3 small plastic wraps from food

Total items collected: 31

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
mayonnaise jar
margarita mix bottle
coffee mate jar
9 plastic produce bags
1 plastic fork

Items: Nonrecyclable
yogurt container
plastic cases for batteries
2 cheese wrappers
tortilla wrapper
3 zip lock bags
6 K-cups for coffee
3 small plastic wraps from food

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
yogurt container
some plastic bags
plastic fork

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

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
K-cups of our brand of coffee

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Don’t put produce in a bag at the store.
Change coffee brands?

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?