Most of waste comes from hygiene products eg cotton buds and food, without having a local green grocer etc how can i reduce these issues?

Location:  Surrey, United Kingdom

Name: Ellie Tideswell

Week: 1

Personal Info:

21 year old female biology graduate, living at home working in a pub saving money for (hopefully flightless) travel, single.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
Straws, plastic bags, pre-packaged foods

Total items collected: 14

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
Food packaging (plastic mushroom box)

Items: Nonrecyclable
Cotton buds
Plastic ties attatching labels to clothes
Thin cellophane wrapping

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Potentially cotton buds if i find alternative

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Certain foods

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Food packaging

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Diet

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Cotton buds

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?