My Non-Plastic Journey – Day 4

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Posted by Wendy | Posted in Environmental, Me | Posted on 10-08-2009

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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.

Comments (1)

If you go out and buy new things to replace all of your plastic things you’ve accomplished your one goal in that you are no longer using plastic. However, if you then throw the plastic things away before the end of their useful life (i.e. cutting boards) aren’t you then worsening part of the problem? I would think your goal would be better served to just not buy any new plastic things.

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