Location:Monterey, California, United States

Name: Mika Yoneda

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I am a female. I have divorced parents so i switch houses every week. I have an older brother and older sister. I currently attend high school.

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

This week I did not refuse any items I would not normally refuse because it is my first week.

Total items collected: 43

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
1) 3 plastic bottles recycle #1. I think these bottles get broken down and reused as new bottles.
2) 2 food containers recycle # 5. I think these containers get broken down and made into some other kind of container.
3) 1 yogurt container recycle #6. I think the yogurt container will get broken down and used as another type of container.

Items: Nonrecyclable
1) 3 shopping bags
2) 1 single serving food wrapper
3) 10 bulk food wrappers
4) 10 ziplock bags
5) 2 other plastic bags
6) 1 piece of saran wrap
7) 2 food containers
8) 8 food services

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I could easily replace ziplock bags and water bottles with reusable containers and bottles. As well as shopping bags because I could instead use cloth bags.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
I would be willing to give up store bought chips and drinks that come in plastic packages.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Items such as vegetables and meats that come in plastic packages are essential to me because they are necessary to keep a healthy diet, and my family very much enjoys cooking and food.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
In order to reduce my plastic consumption, I might try eating more fruits for snacks, and not buying as many items from stores.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
One item I am willing to give up this week is the fountain drink straw and lid that come from fast food restaurants.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
It seems to me that I use a lot more plastic items in my life that are not recyclable than I first thought.