Location:Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Name: Eve Stavros

Week: 21

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!)

Straws, bags, cutlery

Total items collected: 21

Total weight: 1.2 oz

Items: Recyclable
new: milk bottle ring #4 (1),
old: spice bottles #1 (2), tea light holder #7 (1)

Items: Nonrecyclable
New: envelope windows (4)
Old: spice bottle caps (2), prescription bottle cap (1) tea bag (1), cookie wrappers (4), candy bag (1), Christmas plastic packaging (4)

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Spices in bottle – I buy in bulk from a local health food store. I can save these two to use for filling instead of the small plastic bags I’m currently using (they’re going to wear out soon).

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?

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?