Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Kaitlin Brawley

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Female 19-year-old marine bio major at UCSC. Apartment with 9 roommates.

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

Total items collected: 7

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
Two contact lens solution bottles, plastic bottle

Items: Nonrecyclable
Deodorant stick, zip lock bag

What items can I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
Use foil instead of plastic bags to store food

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
Processed food that comes in plastic wrappers and zip lock bags

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Contact solution, deodorant

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
None, I really don’t use that much plastic. I could use as little contact solution as possible to make it last as long as possible so I won’t need to buy as many bottles.

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Eating at the dining hall and cooking at home is a lot less wasteful than eating out.