Location:, California, United States

Name: Emily Hardison

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Emily Hardison’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
plastic bag for grocerys

Total items collected: 10

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
not sure which ones are recyclable
juice bottle( number 1)
empty shampoo bottle(number 2)

Items: Nonrecyclable
blue cup (number 6)
juice bottle( number 1)
plastic smoothie cup/ straw/ top(number 7)
plastic on outside of toothbrush container
plastic on bag of cheese puffs
2 plastic candy wrappers

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
buy glass bottled juice and candy in bulk instead of packaged…also I could re-use cups instead of the plastic blue throw away cup.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
plastic bag of cheese puffs and smoothies from banana joes

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Toothbrush, but I know there is a bamboo option. I am just concerned that bamboo toothbrushes will grow more bacteria than plastic toothbrushes.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
bringing bags all the time with me to the store, and using a glass water bottle. Also never putting produce in a separate plastic bag from the rest of the food.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
I think I am ready to give up plastic candy wrappers. I eat way to much candy as it is.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?