Location:Melbourne, Australia

Name: Tanya Thorpe

Week: 5

Personal Info:

as previously

Tanya Thorpe’s personal blog:

Total items: 32

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
1,2 yogurt tub & lid (from last month but not pictured last month) – HDPE/PE-LD (2 & 4)
3 blue plastic charity bag that came through the letterbox
4 bag given to me by neighbours containing their home-grown kale- it was a reused bread bag
5 small bag that contained something I’ve forgotten
All recyclable via municipal recycling collection

Items: Nonrecyclable
6 tofu wrapping- I haven’t found any without plastic. Is the only solution to make your own?
7 walnut packaging- purchased before decision to bulk buy dry goods
8,9 sugar wrapping and plastic sticker- as above
10, 11 soy milk carton & lid that- SHOCK- are not in fact recyclable by municipal recycling as I had previously thought!
12 Easiyo yogurt packaging as yogurt starter culture
13, 14 small film bags that contained cards. Why does a card need to be in a bag and not just an envelope?
14 cracker/biscuit packaging
15 package of sanitary towels (only occasional use. Do you know the Lunette cup?)
16 spool that cotton sewing thread came on. I haven’t seen the old wooden ones in ages
17,18 wrapping for ink stamp pad used to make own christmas cards
19 stupid tie around noodles
20 plastic that came around lid of jam jar
21,22,23 electric toothbrush head, coloured band and package. I used to think electric toothbrushes were stupid- why use electricity to clean your teeth? Then I needed 6 fillings and needed a better regime of cleaning!
24,25, 26 razor heads and cartridge thing. I’ve had the same razor for 13 years but the heads are disposable
27 cling wrap- covering from someones left overs in fridge
28, 29 chocolate wrapping!
30, 31, 32 lid, pourer thing and wrap around lid for glass bottle of tamari

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
chocolate wrapping
walnuts- buy in bulk

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
gift cards that come in plastic bags!

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
toothbrush head. For a decade I used a montebianco brush where you just throw away the head part, not the handle, but then I had too many cavities and changed to an electric one that reaches/brushes better for me.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
chocolate wrapping (I know I said that last time too. I’m trying!)

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?