Find out what living plastic-free looks like in Norway.

Name: Fonda LaShay

Week: 1

Location:Stavanger, Norway

Personal Info:

I am an American living in Stavanger Norway with my Norwegian boyfriend.

We are trying to live plastic free. Read more about what we are trying to accomplish (more then just cutting out plastics) on my blog: http://www.mintandchili.com/the-may-challenge

Fonda LaShay’s personal blog: http://www.mintandchili.com

Total items: 26

Total weight: 229 grams / 8.07 ounces

Items: Recyclable
PARTY PLASTICS
(boyfriends birthday party, not everyone knew we are on the challenge)

2 produce bags
1 Cava bottle top wrapper
1 Chocolate bar wrapper
2 6 pack wrappers from local beer

OLD PLASTICS

2 frozen food packages, french fries and diced potatoes (had been lingering in fridge)
1 sour cream container
1 plain yogurt container
1 IKEA candle cover/lid
1 chocolate bar wrapper
1 5 KG bag rice
1 1 KG bag whole grain rice

NEW PLASTICS
3 wrappers from pork loin (figured I would bring them from the butcher for the count since it was already in it.)
1 6 pack wrapper from local beer
1 salmon wrapper
1 snickers bar wrapper
2 juice box tabs
1 button from new siv
1 cap with wrapper from Oil bottle
1 wooden cutting board wrapper

[We have a plastic recycling station in our area, they say they take all plastics. I have not been able to find out what they do with the plastics that are not numbered.]

Items: Nonrecyclable
[We have a plastic recycling station in our area, they say they take all plastics. I have not been able to find out what they do with the plastics that are not numbered.]

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I have been making my own yogurt for some time now, but my starter died out last week.. So I had to buy a new container of yogurt to get it going again.

Salmon, we will now be buying it only fresh – I mean, I am living in Norway land of fish!

Snickers, my boyfriend had a moment of weakness.

Rice – I have finally been able to find a store that sells boxed rice!

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Frozen food items. They have been bought out of laziness, we are on another challenge to buy nothing processed – so no more of them!

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Baking Chocolate – it only comes in plastic wrappers here :(

Our local beer, we know the brewers and love that it is local. However, we will be letting them know more and more (then we already have) that they should pack the 6 packs in paper.

My local butcher has started pre packing down the cuts of meat we buy. They used to just have then sitting out in the counter, but now they are already in a baggie. Since it was for the food I am buying I tell them to leave it in the bag, so I can add it to my count.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
We have been trying to reduce our plastic for some time now. I have been following the other ‘challengies’ and have decided that we need to join in!

We have made significant changes in our life since the new year. We are trying to only eat 100% real unprocessed locally grown/raised food. It is amazing how much plastic is eliminated when you are not buying packaged foods.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Everything but the oil, meat and beer packaging.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I was hoping that we would not have this much trash. We have been consciously avoid plastics for some months now. But it is nice (a sad nice) to see where we are actually at in our plastic collection. We will be actively counting our plastics the whole month of May.