Is it better to use disposable metal (tin, aluminum cans, etc) in terms of environmental impact? I know they tend to recycle easier, but how about the initial engery consumption in the production process?

Location:  Medical Lake, WA, United States

Name: Gray

Week: 2

Personal Info:

Gray’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
LOTS of plastic shopping bags, a few straws at restaurants, a few plastic forks and spoons

Total items collected: 9

Total weight: unknown

Items: Recyclable
0

Items: Nonrecyclable
Ballet technique shoe bag, ballet pointe shoe bag, ballet tights bag (had to buy new dance supplies), Subway bag (they didn’t let me reject it), broken hair brush, disposable sunglasses (didn’t know the eye doctors would dialate), straw, dentist bag, pill bottle

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I can’t use the kids dentist anymore, so I maybe won’t be given the bags any more, I am not sure.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Straws and subway bags should be easy, just as soon as I know where I can go where they won’t force me to take it

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
It is super impossible to find ballet stuff without plastic

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Again, at some point I need to become financially independent and be able to shop where I want, not where my mom wants

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
The dentist bag should be easy

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?