Location:Salem, Massachusetts, United States

Name: Ellen Simpson

Week: 16

Personal Info:

See week 7

Ellen Simpson’s personal blog: http://housebehindtheotherhouses.blogspot.com/

Total items: 26

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
3 cat food cans
salad dressing bottle (#1)
cap to milk carton

Items: Nonrecyclable
Milk carton
2 ice cream containers
Packing materials from boots
Coffee bag
Half & half carton
4 butter packets
Deodorant container and wrapper
Dog biscuit bag
2 bags that had sweatshirts in them
Gift card
Pen package
5 bottle caps

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Salad dressing bottle — I don’t think it’s that hard to make your own
Coffee bag — these have been in the freezer for a while, but I can get coffee in paper bags

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Bags that the sweatshirts came in — I had bought a sweatshirt in person at Old Navy for one of the kids, and it fit and was comfortable, so I ordered two more online, and they came packaged in these plastic bags, which are really not necessary! I’d rather go back to the store and get them in person.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Packing materials from boots — I needed boots, and they all have packing material stuffed inside them, it seems, so even if I leave it at the store, it still was produced for my boots.

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

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
I made vegetable stock this weekend, so I could avoid buying the tetrapack soup stock!

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I am going to take a break from doing the tally for a while. I’ve been agonizing about this, because I enjoy it and it keeps me honest, but life has gotten busier, plus I want my kitchen counter back! The tally that I’m submitting today was from a couple of weeks ago. Since the middle of last week I haven’t been saving my plastic, and I can see that I’m letting a little more plastic creep in, so now my focus needs to be on keeping the plastic waste down, even while not saving and tallying. I will miss doing it, but I will keep reading everyone else’s tallies for inspiration and motivation. Thanks for giving us all this forum for talking about these issues, Beth!