Plastic Challenge: Eduardo Perez, Week 1
How can I learn to cut things I use regularly like detergent bottles, deodorant, Shampoo? Are there other methods I can try since I’m so use to using certain things that are sadly packaged in plastic.
Location: San Mateo, CA, United States
Name: Eduardo Perez
Week: 1
Personal Info:
Hi I am a 18 year old college student that lives at home and commutes to school. I am 1 of 5 living in my household, 2 of them are my younger siblings one is 16 and the youngest is 11 months and then my mom and step dad as well.
List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
I chose to refuse the consumption of many water bottles where as before I would always drink about 3 to 4 water bottles.
Total items collected: 90
Total weight: 6 lbs
Items: Recyclable
I am not sure how many of the plastic trash I collected was recyclable.
Items: Nonrecyclable
Detergent bottle
Plastic packaging to some asthma inhalers
Chip bag
Ham packaging
Lightbulb packaging
What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottle
Detergent in a box instead of bottled liquid
Buy ham at a butcher shop not wrapped in plastic
What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Chips
Candy
Asthma inhalers since I rarely use
What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Toothpaste
Lotion
What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I think some lifestyle changes that might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption is to shop locally and at farmers markets as well as finding alternatives in my necessities in packaging.
What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
One Plastic item I am willing to replace is my shampoo for one week and find one that isn’t packaged in plastic.
What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I can draw that this experiment has helped me open my eyes on how much trash I have collected and that I do want to start finding alternatives that aren’t packaged in plastic.