How do we reduce plastic waste for bathroom products? I feel like everything I do in the bathroom requires plastic…

Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Emily Stollmeyer

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I’m a 20 yr old Marine Biology college student. I work in a restaurant where I eat as many as half of my meals there per week. I live off campus with 4 other college students. I’m doing the Docent Class at the Seymour Center this year. 😀

Emily Stollmeyer’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
Multiple grocery bags (I already use reusable ones).
Plastic drink cups at my work.
Water Bottles (I reuse water bottles/soda bottles)

Total items collected: 37

Total weight: n/a

Items: Recyclable
1 Strawberry container – 1
1 Raspberry container – 1
1 Take – out box – 6
2 Plastic bags – 2
1 Toilet paper bag – 4
2 Shampoo/conditioner containers – 1
2 Greenware cups – 7
1 Condiment Container – 5
1 Condiment Container lid – 1
1 Yogurt cup – 5
1 Plastic fork – 7
1 Greenware Lid – 7

Items: Nonrecyclable
2 plastic wrappers (frozen veggie patty & fortune cookie)
1 wildwood pasta slim container
1 plastic bag gift wrap
2 pieces of saran wrap
1 plastic lid wrapper
1 ranch container
2 candy wrappers
1 pair of gloves from work
1 Gillette shaver
1 gift card
1 straw
1 boxed drink plug
1 gift ribbon
1 swiffer pad

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Plastic bags
Condiment containers (just used the condiments I have at home)
saran wrap – used a reusable container
choose products that have less plastic wrapping

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Take out
candy
swiffers

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
bathroom items such as shampoo/soap/shavers

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
eat at home more often

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
try to eliminate all plastic bags/cups

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?