About This Challenge:
As I learn more about living sustainably, I came across the plastic challenge created by Beth Terry and I decided to take the challenge. It’s worth noting that the purpose of such challenge is to raise awareness on plastic use by observing our own behaviors, not to provoke guilt.
Week 6 (2020/11/19-2020/11/25)
Week 7 (2020/11/26-2020/12/02)
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Name: Yi Yu (Stephanie)
Week: 6+7 (2020/11/19-2020/12/02)
List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
One-time use masks, grocery bags, straws, cups… the usuals
Total items collected: 17+17=34
Total weight: 100g (wk.6) + 290g (wk.7) = 390g (13.76 oz)
Items: Recyclable
1) Styrofoam takeout box from Wing Stop
2) Bag strap for bread bag
3) Packages from cosmetic and hygiene product
4-5) Tampons
6) Plastic coffee cup
7) Plastic lid for coffee cup
8-9) Plastic lid for ramen container
10) Milk carton
11) Half-n-half carton
12) Holder for instant ramen
13-14) Air-filled protector for delivery
Items: Nonrecyclable
15) Package for rice noodles
16) Tube from Airborne
17) Styrofoam lid
18-19) Plastic lid from hapi snacks
20-21) Plastic film
22-24) Bag for chips
25) Bag for bread
26-27) Plastic bag
28-29) Ramen container
30) Package for instant ramen
31-32) Plastic bag from photography gears
33) Small plastic
34-35) Plastic wrap from Meiji
What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Perhaps the bread packaging. I used to bake sourdough bread, but I stopped because I failed miserably almost every time. This semester is coming to an end, and it might be a good time to pick that up again.
What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Airborne Vitamin C and rice noodles wrapped in plastics.
What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I probably start to sound like a broken record, but the few changes needed include order less takeout and shop online only when necessary.
What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Multi-surface cleaner in plastic bottles! I ordered a starter cleaning kit from Blueland, and so far, I’m really enjoying it.
Commentary of the Week
I took a short trip to the San Francisco Bay during Thanksgiving, which is the main reason why there wasn’t much plastic waste being included, since the majority of the trash is tossed away. Also, I’m combining week 6 and 7 together because I had quite a busy week, and my body conditions were not at their best. During the short trip, I realized how tough it is to avoid the use of plastics on a trip as I don’t have a choice but to consume products wrapped in plastics. To change this, careful planning is needed. For instance, pre-pack snacks and bottled water, bring my own trash bags to collect plastics, as well as cook if the situation allows.
On the trip, I tried out Philz Coffee for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised by their environmental consciousness. All their coffee cups and lids are from a brand called ECO PRODUCTS, which provides compostable and recyclable utensils. To me, the best part about Philz Coffee is that both hot and cold drinks go into the same kind of cups. This makes composting or recycling much easier since buyers would spend less time in sorting the waste.
Wrote on Dec 3, 2020
Los Angeles
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