Archive for October, 2009
Green_grrl – Plastic Challenge (week 3)
Monday, October 26th, 2009Didn’t do as well this week as last.
Here’s the tally:
Recyclable Items
- Plasticized milk carton (part of the curbside program but unsure how it’s recycled)
Non-recyclable Items
- nacho chip bag
- 2 windows from bread bags
- plastic wrap and inner packaging – fig bars
- 1 piece saran wrap(cucumber was wrapped in plastic – why is this necessary??)
- 2 empty deodorants
- 4 lids and 2 security seals from glass milk bottles
- fountain pop lid and straw
- top from a hot choc (disposable paper cup)
- envelope window
- 1 bag beer nuts – not depicted
- 1 plastic bag that whole local org chicken came in – not depicted
- 3 plastic grocery bags (for garbage) – not depicted
Total number of items = 24
Total weight of plastic stash = 8oz
Tally analysis
- What did I do this week to avoid plastic?
*Bought lots of stuff in bulk (see pic below) – I brought all those containers to the health food store this weekend and filled them all up!
*Switched to a plastic-free deodorant
*Brought my lunch to work most days and on days I didn’t bought lunch from the deli that sells sandwich wrapped in paper.
Questions I’m not sure the answer to:
- Is it better to buy milk in glass bottles with plastic tops which are not recyclable vs. buying milk cartons which are recyclable (but I’m not sure how and to what extent)
- What to do at events that don’t allow you to bring any food and drink (e.g. The beer nut bag, fountain pop top and straw and hot choc top are all from an NHL game I went to this week). I def. could have brought a mug for the hot choc – didn’t plan on having any but the arena was FREEZING (I know you are all like, well duh! but normally it isn’t that cold in the stands!). But not sure what I could do about the drink. Here too I tried to pick the best option but still not sure I succeeded – I chose to pick a fountain drink because it seemed to contain less plastic. However if I’d have chosen a plastic bottle of pop, the bottle could have been recycled. What’s better?
Bulk food purchases this week – no new plastic! 
Billie Ryder – Month #5
Monday, October 26th, 2009I have lost another 3lbs for a total of 13lbs. I have had several people say that they can see that I have lost weight!
I wanted to get below 40 pieces of plastic this month and I made it! This was actually pretty hard and didn’t leave much room for splurging.
Number of items: 38
Weight of items: 3 1/4oz
Items:
4 x candy wrapper
deli bag + wrapper
Hot chocolate pot
italian sausage bag
hot dog bag
blue cheese plastic
cheddar cheese bag
7 x milk lid
7 x milk zipper
lime juice lid
icing sugar bag
graham cracker bag
cocoa seal
3x pasta window
plastic fork – will be reused by my husband
Goya bottle wrap
cider sample cup
2x butter wrapper
GF International coffee seal
My sins:
I am sorry… but life is extremely stressful and I bought a tin of GF international coffee. I used to drink this everyday and managed to give it up for a couple of months. After this tin is done, I will strive to not buy it for another couple of months.
I have no idea where my head was when I picked up the plastic fork. We have real forks at work but the plastic ones were out and that is what I picked up at the BBQ.
I am sure I am missing some plastic from prior lists because it just dawned on me that the Goya Mango juice in a glass bottle has a PLASTIC wrapper on it! ARGH!!!! Normally I buy Jumex in a can but occasionally I bought the Goya. *sigh* This is officially struck off my list.
That cider sample cup came about due to Hand, Food and Mouth disease. My throat was so scratchy due to said disease at the Farmer’s Market that I grabbed the sample cup and downed it BEFORE I realized it was made of plastic. ARGH!!!!
What could I live without?
blue cheese plastic is no more. I bought a 2lb block of cheese wrapped in foil and have been munching on that for the last month.
Hot chocolate pots are no more. I have switched over the Nestle which lasts a month and produces 2 pieces of plastic per month.
What are convenience foods?
Graham crackers? I don’t know if this is a convenience food or not. I do know that I have no desire to figure out how to make them.
What won’t I give up?
My butter – I have deliberately went with local butter which comes in plastic wrap rather than go with butter shipped in from who knows where in cardboard and wax paper. This is a locavore decision that flies in the face of my plastic challenge. Sometimes you can’t do everything.
Milk, pasta, my occasional candy and
meat. I am down to 1-2 lbs of meat a week. Only one meal a day has meat in it. I am not yet prepared to get my meat at Whole Foods.
My goal next month is to try to stay within the 40 plastic items.
Bibi’s Plastic Challenge, Week #1
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
- Week#: Wednesday 30 September to Wednesday 7 October
- Name: Bibi
- List of Recyclable Items
- PowerAde bottle
- laundry detergent bottle….x1
- dish liquid bottle…x2
- hair shampoo plastic bottle
- List of Non-recyclable Items:
- Plastic wrapping bags for Klean Kanteen aluminum bottles…x2
- Plastic wrapping for Wallstreet Journal…..x7
- Plastic wrapping for BMJ…x1
- Plastic wrapping for Surgery Magazine…x1
- Plastic bag wrapping for children clothing Olive Juice…x3
- Plastic bag mail….x1
- Paper envelopes with plastic windows….x2
- Ecover dishwasher tablets…x6
- Plastic and paper bag wrapping with plastic hanger children underwear…x3
- Powerade bottle cap
- Box with plastic window kids car…x3
- Egg white tetra brik (have a glued plastic rim)….x6
- Egg white tetra brik caps….x6
- Egg white tetra brik whatever you call to open the hole!….x6
- Organic Whole milk tetra brik (have a glued plastic rim)…x2
- Organic Whole milk tetra brik caps…x2
- Organic Whole milk tetra brik whatever you call to open the hole!…x2
- Bottle Pedialyte… x2
- Crab supreme bags…………x4
- Orange juice straws…x4
- Plastic wrapping for children ice pops
- Frozen vegetable bag…x1
- Sanitary towel plastic wrap….10
- Spiderman plastic freezing face (for swellings…)…x1
- Plastic bags from lego toy….x6
- Tap plastic wrapps……..x3
- Rubber glove
- Shower gel plastic bottled
- Plastic wrap on cheese sticks organic valley….x6
- Back to nature cashew plastic bags…..x4
- Plastic strips for facial cleansing….x3
- Plastic wrapping for cold depilatory wax
- Plastic bag premixed cookie….x1
- Plastic bag gummie bears..x1
- Plastic wrapping ice creams….x6
- Total number of items:
- Total weight of plastic stash: 4.8 lbs
- Tally analysis (answers to the following questions)
- What items could I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
Plastic bag premixed cookie…. Do it myself
Plastic wrapping for children ice pops…. Do it myself
Lego toys… buy previously used- What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
Cheese sticks, cow milk, facial cleansing strips,
- How many of these items are from “convenience” foods that could be made from scratch with less packaging but might take more time to prepare?
Ice cream, orange juice, lemon juice, cookie dough
- What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Female sanitary towels
Nuts
BMJ (British Medical Journal)/ Surgery magazine/Wall Street Journal
Shampoo
cold depilatory wax system- What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Be more aware of plastic. Spend more time in the kitchen, Live a more “aware” lifestyle and sacrifice convenience…
- What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Shower gel for soap bar
Ecover: no more tablets… will buy powder- What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I have to take it easier, and live my life a notch “slower”. I must remind myself more often to respect our Earth
- Personal description:
South Florida
Female
One child
Retired surgeon, currently have a start up company which inevitably adds stress in my life because I am in an unknown territory.
After this week I feel terribly ashamed and embarrassed with myself.
Thank you Beth for this wake up call.I love you!
Green_grrl – Plastic Challenge (week 2)
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Recyclable Items
- Plasticized milk carton (part of the curbside program but unsure how it’s recycled)
Non-recyclable Items
- plastic lined can (can is recyclable but the plastic lining isn’t
- plastic wrap from local cheese
- bag choc chips
- 1 piece saran wrap(was used to cover pie brought home from M&D’s)
- remains of a scrubber (used to wash dishes)
- two labels from local beauty products (came in glass jars)
- plastic top from sour cream
- sticker removed from brother’s guitar case (which I’ve adopted)
- top and security seal from vitamin bottle (glass)
- two cereal bags
- wrap from eye drop box and 4 eye droppers
- vitamin powder package
- top of cheese curd package
- misc plastic wrap (not sure what this is from)
- 3 plastic grocery bags (for garbage)
Total number of items = 25
Total weight of plastic stash = 4.75oz
Tally analysis
- What items could I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
*milk (could buy in glass)
*choc chips (could buy in bulk)
*saran wrap from pie (could have brought a container to M&Ds) - What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
*cereal (I could make my own granola) - How many of these items are from “convenience” foods that could be made from scratch with less packaging but might take more time to prepare?
*sour cream? - What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
*eye droppers. I hated using them but it was a bit of a necessity this week - What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
*make an effort to buy more food in bulk and maintain a good stockpile of food essentials to prevent last minute trips to our neighbourhood grocery store (which doesn’t have any bulk food). E.g. choc chips - What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
*non-bulk choc chips - What did I do this week to avoid plastic?
*Make cookies from scratch
*Buy soap wrapped in paper
*Brought my lunch to work most days and on days I didn’t bought lunch from the deli that sells sandwich wrapped in paper.
Green_grrl – plastic garbage (week 1)
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
green_grrl - plastic garbage challenge - week 1
Week one is done. Hadn’t quite thought about how personal posting pics of one’s garbage is!
Is worth it though. Is such an eye opener and it’s already having an impact. Today at work we had an all day meeting so pizza was ordered in for lunch. With styrofoam plates. 
I certainly couldn’t use one since I just promised (see below) to not use any more styrofoam. So I walked back to my building to get my plate and cutlery from my office.
Recyclable Items
- 2 jugs (local apple cider) – recycling #2 – this is included in our curbside recycling
Non-recyclable Items
- 1 potato chip bag
- 1 package – organic sausages
- 1 bag tortilla chips – bag looked to be paper but is fully plastic on the inside
- 2 pieces saran wrap *
- 1 plastic window from a bag of bread
- 1 bag local cheese curds
- 2 stickers from a box of choc
- plastic security seal from eye drops
- label from a glass bottle of juice
- cough drop wrappers
- 2 cookie wrappers*
- 1 bag salad greens – opened badly so hard to reuse
- conference name tag (printed on hard plastic like a credit card – grrrr)
- conference name tag holder
- styrofoam container – went to a restaurant that only served in styrofoam!
- small plastic pot and lid
- 4 plastic grocery bags (not depicted)
*items with a star are from my lunches at a conference I attended last week – I was going to bring my own but figured since they were making a lunch for me and the plastic would be going into the garbage anyway, I may as well get the lunch. Good decision?
Total number of items = 32
Total weight of plastic stash = 7oz
Tally analysis
- What items could I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
*sausages – bought from a butcher in butcher paper
*choc box stickers – easy to get choc in non plastic packaging - What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
*potato chips
*tortilla chips
*any food served only in styrofoam at restaurants - How many of these items are from “convenience” foods that could be made from scratch with less packaging but might take more time to prepare?
*cheese curds?
*perogies (was what was in the styrofoam)
*bread - What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
*local apple cider (I know not really essential but so good and only available for a short period. Will keep looking for glass though) - What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
*less junk food - What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
*styrofoam - What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
*I’m actually surprised there wasn’t more plastic. I’m annoyed at the conference pass thing. Am going to write to the organizers to see if they can do it with less plastic next year (is an annual conference).
Personal description
- location = Ottawa, ON, Canada
- gender = female
- relationship status = married no kids
- work=in an office