Tips on deciding what is plastic & what is cellophane, for items like biscuit packets.

Location:Morrinsville, New Zealand

Name: Mark Purdy

Week: 4

Personal Info:

I live in a small town, that serves surrounding farming areas; I own, and am renovating, my 1930′s cottage. I currently am the only occupant of the house; and work for a local roofing company.
My hobbies are wood working, kendo, and Roman re-enactment.

Mark Purdy’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
clingfilm-wrapped bakery items, sauce/meal mixes packed in plastic, fruit & veg packed in plastic. Bags at hardware store & tool supply shop.

Total items collected: 17

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
Milk bottle #2
Coke bottle #1
Both recyclable at kerbside

Items: Nonrecyclable
Biscuit packet
2x frozen food trays
Bread rolls bag (these last 2 were while staying at my parents when having wood floor sanded & finished).
Cheese wrapper
corner off a frozen veggie pack
Bread tag
Shortbread cookies bag from kendo club
Frozen veggies bag
wrapping off a curtain track
Package from a pop rivet gun (I hate these rigid plastic packs but could not find a plastic free option for this)
a worn out pair of roofing shoes
(not in photo) a rubbish bag and a 5 litre container from Bona Mega floor finish (a non toxic finish instead of polyurethane)

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?

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

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Milk is only available in plastic. Other items noted above.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Hard to change–limited time available to look for or prepare alternatives.

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

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I get frustrated by the large amounts of non recyclable plastic waste created at work. There’s not much chance to reduce this–I will mention any successes on this as they happen.