Location:Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Name: Eve Stavros

Week: 10

Personal Info:

I recently retired early and moved from Florida to Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m fortunate to live in the basement apartment of my best friend’s beautiful log home, where I have time to garden, read, cook, play with my cat, Armani, and SLEEP! Living on a budget, but enjoying some travel — and most of all the time to enjoy the slow life.

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

water bottles, plastic cutlery, straws

Total items collected: 10

Total weight: 1.1 oz

Items: Recyclable
milk bottle cap #4 (1)

Items: Nonrecyclable
bandaid (1), envelope window (2), soda bottle cap (1), plastic labels from ??? (2), glue stick packaging (1), mascara tube (1), misc plastic strip (1)

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Maybe the mascara — that was an old tube I wrung the life out of — I now have a large cake mascara which should last me forever, esp. since I can wash out the brush!

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

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
The pasta maker was a major step, and now I can be truly plastic-free on spaghetti and noodles!!!

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

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?