Location:, Illinois, United States

Name: Pat Clancy

Week: 2

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

Plastic grocery bags (brought my reusables)
Produce bags (brought last week’s to reuse)
2 plastic tags from produce

Total items collected: 24

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
1 bread bag
1 mesh onion bag
2 yogurt tubs with lids
1 bottle (green cleaning product)
1 meat tray (sausage)

Items: Nonrecyclable
8 vitamin packets (from Dr. Weil; I have preordered months’ worth of these so they will keep showing up)
1 packet from flower food sent with Valentine bouquet
8 pieces of plastic film from packaging (chicken, sausage, cauliflower, and unknown)
one cap from paper carton
2 tear-off strips from dog treat bags
1 old, dried-up bottle of glue

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I can make my own cleaning solution
I can buy meat at the butcher to avoid plastic packaging
I can buy produce loose to avoid plastic packaging

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Can’t think of one from this list.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Personal care items such as mouthwash, dental floss, etc.
Many food items that come in glass, as well as produce bought unpackaged, still have a plastic seal or tag.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Change my shopping habits. Make some foods from scratch.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Meat wrapped in plastic.