Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Nicole Dwyer

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Female Student at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Marine Biology

Nicole Dwyer’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
5 bags
1 vegetable tray
1 candy wrapper
3 coffee cup lids
1 ramen pack
1 miscellaneous wrapper
1 wrapping/case of a new kitchen knife

Total items collected: 13

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
3 coffee cup lids
1 vegetable tray

Items: Nonrecyclable
bags
candy wrapper
ramen pack
casing
misc. wrapper

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
the coffee cup lids, I could bring my own cup/mug
the bags, I could use a container for snacks
other bags, I could use a reusable bag

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
the ramen, its not healthy anyway.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
the packaging of items like the kitchen knife I bought.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Being more thoughtful/planning ahead when I am going to get a cup of coffee and bringing my snacks to school etc.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
I am going to do my best to remember my reusable items, like the coffee mug and containers instead of bags.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Packaging made by manufacturers is pretty wasteful.