Name: Rebecca

Week: 4

Personal Info:
Read all about me in my Week 1 Challenge Post.

Blog: http://ecocatlady.blogspot.com

Total items: 30

Total weight: too lazy to weigh it this week

Items: Recyclable
1 – cat treat jar
1 – parmesean cheese jar
1 – cauliflower wrapper

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 – cat treat jar lid
1 – parmesean cheese jar lid
1 – lightbulb clamshell
1 – cheese wrapper
1 – tempeh package
1 – top of a bag from frozen scallops
1 – broccoli tag
1 – banana sticker
1 – milk cap ring
1 – wine cap
1 – wine seal
2 – jar lids
1 – candy wrapper
1 – piece of tape from diswasher soap box that was falling apart
1 – bit of duct tape
2 – soy sauce packets
2 – q tips
7 – breathe right strips

To be honest, there were also a pile of fruit stickers and envelope windows, but I got too lazy to collect them

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
The light bulb clam shell, I found light bulbs in all cardboard boxes. Although… I really want to buy a LED light for the lamp in my front room, which is the lamp that is most used, but ALL of them come in hideous giant clamshell boxes big enough to hold 6 bulbs. AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!! (sorry, just had to bitch)

Well, the soy sauce is not something I buy in single serving packs, it’s leftover from the occasional takeout splurge so I try to use them up when I make stir fry.

I did find “ear picks” on eBay for a dollar to replace Q-tips. Won’t help for the non-ear wax uses, but I will get one.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
The candy. It was a leftover from Halloween. BTW – I have a crisis every year at Halloween. Has anybody come up with a better alternative for what to hand out that isn’t toxic and/or plastic?

Bananas – I’m actually having a bit of a crisis about bananas, which you can read all about here if you want to be bored and/or amused: http://ecocatlady.blogspot.com/2011/02/banana-excuses.html

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Ug… I’m getting down to where most of it feels fairly essential without giving up some things I’m not willing to part with, like cheese and/or finding a way to spend a pile more money.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I WILL grow some cruciferous veggies this year and protect them from the aphid army. I WILLLL (that should solve some of the veggie plastic).

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Halloween Candy 🙂

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
No conclusions, I fear, just a whine… WHY must all cauliflower come wrapped in plastic. WHY????

One More Question:
Parmesan Cheese. I’m Italian… I can’t live without it. (OK I’m a quarter Italian, but it’s the part of my heritage that I identify with.) I generally buy it in big hunks at the deli when I can afford it because it is worlds better than the stuff in the jar, it still comes wrapped in plastic. Any suggestions?