Maria Selig - Plastic Challenge (Vanessa 311)

Today is Tuesday, the day after the day I lived with out plastics. It was like a step back into history. The simplicity that the day turned into was amazing.

I woke up and grabbed my glasses. It was my first stop as the sides of the glasses are plastic. I was going to try my contact lenses, nope they are in a plastic case and they have plastic content anyway. This has to be my first plastic choice, as without sight the day won’t happen. I decided to stay with contacts since they have less overall plastic content.

I darted off to the bathroom for my daily grooming. I looked at the toilet fearing the seat of the toilet was plastic, what a relief it is painted wood. I got ready to brush my teeth realizing both the toothbrush and toothpaste are plastic. I used my finger with baking soda, followed by a stick of gum.

I opened the plastic shower curtain and looked at the shower, which has a plastic showerhead. Then I looked at the bathtub, which has plastic handles. I turned to the bathroom sink and saw the handles were also plastic. I panicked thinking it was a day without water and ran to the kitchen sink and was relieved to find metal faucets. The only alternative other than not bathing is a sponge bath in the kitchen sink. I went to get my shower gel, which comes in a plastic container and had to resort to my decorative bar soap. My hair could not be washed, as the shampoo is in a plastic container. I couldn’t even comb or brush my hair either. I had to resort to fingers and a crocheted hat for the day.

The next step was breakfast. I grabbed a spool and porcelain bowl and was going to eat my Banana Cheerios, which is in a cardboard box with a plastic bag inside. Realizing that won’t work I started looking at the kitchen options. The refrigerator is off limits since it has a plastic door, handles and shelves, plus the majority of items in the refrigerator are in some sort of plastic container, including the milk I wanted for the Cheerios I could not have. I can’t cook anything, as the knobs on the stove and door are plastic. The microwave is plastic. It seems that today may be a diet day. I looked at the kitchen counters and found wheat thins, for which I think the liner in the box is wax paper. I also ate lots of fruit, a can of soup which I could eat cold, and a bottle of salsa. Realizing I would be very hungry and sad I decided to go to the grocery store. I put on a sweatshirt and slipped on my slipper sock shoes. I looked at the car and saw plastic; I looked at the bike and saw plastic so I used my feet. Luckily the store is not too far away.

I had to make a plastic choice to go into the grocery store as it is filled with plastic. I brought with me a cloth bag to carry my food since the shopping cart had plastic content. I chose broccoli, fresh carrots with their greens, tomatoes, and a green pepper. I made sure to use a paper bag, not the plastic bags. I tried to find something to drink low in calorie and healthy, and settled for some V8 juice in a can. All bread was wrapped in some sort of plastic, except for one alternative: I was able to get fresh-baked bread from the bakery section that was placed in a paper bag. I paid with coins that I had in a glass jar in my room as my wallet contains plastic and both charge and debit cards are plastic.

Frustrated I walked home with my measly fresh produce for the day.

After finding that my food selections were limited and I couldn’t properly groom myself, I then studied along with eating some snacks. I cheated a bit as I emptied my backpack the evening before this project so I could study. I opened a book, which may have a plastic covering. I chose to open and use the book anyway. I was going to sit at the kitchen table, but it had a plastic protective cover, so I moved to the living room couch. I pulled out a pen, realizing that it has plastic content and had to resort to the old fashion yellow number 2 pencil which was not sharpened, and the sharpener I had was plastic. I looked at my computer and realized that it is off limits. There is no Facebook, googling, checking the weather, no research, no email. I cannot use my IPOD, no music. I cannot use my phone, so no texting. I cannot use the TV and I do not have an access to a clock. Without plastic I am cut off from communicating with the outside world.

Frustrated again I thought I would go for a run, but my running shoes had a bit of plastic.

At this point I will sum up the rest of my day. I sat on the living room floor with my 3 dogs reading books and eating fruit and vegetables. It was an early to bed night, as I could not turn on any lights, as all the switches were plastic.

As a side note observation, I realized I broke one rule early in the morning. As I walked out of my carpeted bedroom I had to walk on a vinyl floor, which is made of plastic.

Plastic is so much a part of everyday life that I probably inadvertently made use of other plastics without even knowing it.

The end result of this day of profound realization is that it is very difficult to live in today’s society and environment without total dependence on plastic.