Anyone have any good luck with how to get a local farmer to not pre-vacuum plastic package their meats? I want to try this for this summer’s farmer’s market with one of the producers I buy from regularly.

Location:Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Name: Eve Stavros

Week: 18

Personal Info:

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

Sadly, not enough, when it came to the goodies…

Total items collected: 29

Total weight: 1.9 oz

Items: Recyclable
New: 2 milk bottle caps/rings (#4); 1 prescription bottle (#5)
Old: 1 plastic box from ??? (#3), 1 frozen pea bag (#4)

Items: Nonrecyclable
New: 6 envelope windows, 4 candy wrappers, 1 sock hanger, 1 tea pouch, 1 generic wrapper, 1 shipping label, 2 meat packages, 2 plastic tag “strings”, 1 label, 1 bottle seal

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
The tea pouches were from blossom tea – it was a gift but I know my local health food store carries similar in bulk

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
The candy…OK, it was special candy I got in Iceland…chocolate-covered licorice. I mean, how many times am I going to Iceland????

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
The sock hanger and packaging were from gifts for my great-nephews. I could just give cash instead. Seems like all the things my sister wants me to get them are plastic…

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I can’t seem to keep up weekly, postings, but I’m still separating and tracking it all, and the photo is one of the whole last 3 weeks’ worth.