Ditch Disposable Plastics Challenge Results - Matt Kowalkowski

Day 1: Right off the bat I realized this was going to be a hard challenge to go two days without disposable plastics, I had preplanned my food situation by using mason jars to store milk and pyrex bowls to store cereal in. I didn’t realize how much plastic was involved in the storage of food stuffs, I had to estimate how many turkey, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I was going to make beforehand to last me these two days, Both the peanut butter and jelly containers both being plastics while the turkey lunch meat was in a plastic bag from the deli. Even the bread came is a plastic bag. So as I began my day I realized I needed to brush my teeth and put on some deodorant, so I initially failed the no disposable plastics challenge right off the bat. I packed my backpack I used a Pyrex container to store my premade sandwiches for lunch and a snack. I also packed my reusable plastic water bottle which I did not count as a disposable plastic. After coming home from the school I proceeded to wash the dishes from the previous day and realized that the dishwasher detergent was in a disposable bottle. After washing the dishes I proceeded to make dinner making rice which came is a box with a paper packet for the seasoning which would be recycled. I then proceeded to drink the milk from the mason jars I had stored earlier. I then had to brush my teeth again using the disposable toothpaste container and went to bed.

Day 2: Following the same morning procedure as day one I had the stored cereal for breakfast. Today was also gym day so I proceeded to make a protein shake and take some supplements, however the protein powder was stored in a plastic bag which I had neglected to think about, to compound this, the protein powder came with a disposable scoop. The supplements come in tiny plastic bags which keep the different pills together. I proceeded to the gym with my reusable water bottle and then returned home where I at one of my premade sandwiches. I then proceeded to do laundry which involved me using detergent in a disposable container. I then packed the remaining sandwiches in my bag and headed to school. After I had come home from the school I proceeded to make pancakes for dinner, the eggs I needed already came in a cardboard cartoon which was recyclable and I used the milk I had stored in the mason jars. However the mix I had planned on using came in a cardboard box however it had and interior plastic liner.

Overall this challenge opened my eyes to how much plastics are a part of our daily lives especially when it comes to how are food is stored. This is scary not only because of the waste being produced but also because of the leaching of plastic particles into food stuffs.

2 Day Use

House Recycle Pile