wyhr.orgWendy’s World

Today I woke up and began to make a list of all the plastic things I touched while being on this non-plastic journey. Why am I using plastic? Well, oftentimes I use the item and then realize it’s plastic. Hindsight is 20-20.

• Alarm clock
• Hand soap – After realizing I was using this plastic item, I’ve switched to bar soap.
• Pen – I have an all metal pen. I’ll make the switch.
• Laptop
• Retainer & case – The case is definitely a form of plastic but is the retainer?
• Toothbrush – I could use my finger.
• Toothpaste
• Eye gel
• Medicine bottle – Sorry folks. I need to take my meds.
• Cap on aluminum water bottle – Even non-plastic items have plastic?! My glass Tupperware-esque dishes have plastic lids?! My metal water bottle has a plastic lid?! I can’t win!
• Vitamin bottle – Does it count if I take the vitamins from the plastic bottle and put them in a paper bag? No? I didn’t think so.
• Deodorant – I have an aluminum can but it has a plastic lid. Once again a non-plastic object with a plastic accessory!
• Eyeliner lid – Wood pencil with plastic cap.  See Deodorant.
• Palm Pre
• Pizza tray – In NJ you usually get yelled at when your pizza is ready. When you hear “slice!” you go back to the counter and retrieve your pizza on a paper plate. Yesterday the pizza guy brought our slices to us…on a plastic tray.
• Straw – I caved and sipped Dave’s soda. I could have taken the lid and straw off but was too lazy.
• Ziploc bags – Contained current food.
• Cutting board – Sorry peeps. I could have went out and purchased another cutting board (which I plan to do in the near future) but for now it’s what I have.
• Knife & pot handles – See cutting board.
• Scrubby brush to do dishes – I could have used a dish rag but sorta zoned out at the sink.
• Salt shaker top – Again with the plastic accessory.
• Bags – At the farmer’s market I picked out some fruit in nice carboard-y containers…which the farmer promptly poured in to a plastic bag. I didn’t have paper bag alternatives with me so I didn’t say anything.

This list made me realize a few things: (1) It’s hard to find a completely non-plastic item. (2) Living a non-plastic life is a matter of preparation. All of the items on the list above could be substituted with non-plastic devices after a bit of investigation on the Internet. (3) If I want to make non-plastic a reality, I need to make an investment to substitute my current items. (4) This is turning out to be harder than I thought.