When we started this plastic collection week with guest blogger, Beth Terry, I wasn’t really sure about the Impact part of the project. But now, just around midweek, we already see how much more aware we are of our plastic consumption.
Since Nils and I live outside the States and are here in California only on vacation, we’re accustomed to different habits and packaging. I mention this because some of our midweek plastic collecting observations may seem a bit odd.
Eating ice cream: guilt in more ways than one
cone-less and cup-less, but biodegradable
On our way back to my sister’s from a day in San Francisco yesterday, we stopped for an ice cream. Though we usually would both get a cup, Nils opted for ice cream in a cone. I couldn’t blame him, the waffle cones looked delicious. If I didn’t have gluten intolerance, I (‘d have said, “damn the extra calories” and) probably would’ve joined him.
As we exited the ice cream parlor, I couldn’t help myself, “Mmmm, that cone looks good.”
“I got a cone ’cause otherwise we’d have to generate more plastic,” he said.
I looked down at my now-slightly-less-yummy butter brickle ice cream in a styrofoam cup with plastic spoon. Damn! I’d have to add these plastic products to our e’er growing pile at home!
I’ve never had to think about this because back home, ice cream cups are paper and biodegradable, and often the spoons are wooden or biodegradable plastic. I couldn’t help but think, “OK, so my choices here are: 1) go without ice cream, 2) get the cone and have a gluten attack, or 3) generate plastic. 1 = I really, really wanted that butter brickle ice cream, 2 = I really didn’t want to feel sick, 3 = Bummer. Felt like a bad global citizen.
I decided not to give it too much more thought so I’d still enjoy my ice cream. But, I have since decided that we’ll go back for ice cream so I can suggest to the fellow that they should consider switching to paper cups!
Shame on my favorite grocery store
I love Trader Joe’s for both its quality and variety. For me, they’ve always been a leader in quality and organic food. I enjoy supporting them when I can because their motto says they use “the finest quality, natural ingredients. This means: no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, no genetically modified ingredients, no MSG, no added trans fats.”
So, imagine my disappointment to see how much plastic is used in their packaging! I saw fresh produce hermetically sealed, organic tomatoes encased in clamshell plastic, zukes on what appeared to be polystyrene trays bundled in plastic wrap. Trader Joe’s shame on you. I hope you’ll please fix this! 
Bags, bags, bags
The Reisenthel “Mini Maxi Shopper” is truly the Best!
Last, but not least, Wow, plastic grocery bags are still so prevalent! I know that some are biodegradable under certain circumstances and others are even compostable, but “reduce” and “reuse” are still preferable to “recycle.” I applaud Trader Joe’s raffle to win $25 of free groceries as incentive for customers to bring in their own bags, but (warning, snotty comment coming), darn it! Can’t saving our planet be enough incentive? Nils grew up with cloth bags, so for him it’s a no brainer. For me? I swear that it’s really about habit. It took me some time (I’m both forgetful and lazy), but I got used to always having my own bag with me wherever I go (the Reisenthel “Mini Maxi Shopper” is what I’m addicted to — google it to find where to order one for yourself). And, I use it whether buying in the grocery store, bookstore, clothing shops or department stores.
Midweek conclusion
We’re amazed at how much plastic we’ve thus far collected for the week. The aforementioned surprises aside, we can already see that even though we try to be “conscious” in our day-to-day life, what we’re collecting here is about the same as what we’d collect if we were at home: A lot!
Our complete results coming up when Week 32 ends.
If you weren’t able to start this week of collecting with us, we hope you’ll consider giving it a try on your own. So far, it’s eye opening for us.
Ah, remember when ice cream here was served in paper with wooden spoons?
It’s the styrofoam packaging that really gets me, since it can’t even be recycled. Pretty much all other plastic can be. But the packaging is truly out of control. It seems that the more we raise awareness of the problem, the worse it gets. I buy a camera card, it comes in a package a good 25 times its size. Crazy. And alas for the days when Chinese takeout came in cardboard cartons (with nice metal handles). Now it’s all plastic (if you’re lucky) or styrofoam (usually). Wasteful in all ways, AND they slop all over everything.
I’ve resolved never to buy another plastic tub, drawer, or file cabinet. And no more foam doodads for art projects. I used to think the issue was trash and adding to landfills….but now I know that the manufacturing process is the truly evil part. Sure, we’re going to have some forms of plastic no matter what. But we really can do away with most of it. Might be hard to give up the Sculpy, though!