The Final Test. How did you do on going plastic-free?

Have you noticed any changes in the amount of single-use plastic you’ve been using over the past month? If you’re like me, there are probably plenty of single-use plastic items in your life. I’m slowly working my way through bottles of shampoo, laundry detergent and dish soap before incorporating plastic-free alternatives into my daily routines. And then there are the things I will probably never give up, like the plastic baggies for dog poop.


Remember, the Mind Your Plastic May Challenge is about becoming more mindful about single-use plastics and making choices to reduce the amount you use. It’s about the journey of going plastic-free; not completely ridding your life of plastic in one fell swoop.


So, how did you do? Conduct your own personal waste audit today to find out.


Peek in your trash can. Make a list of what you find. How many items are from single-use plastic? When we started this challenge, I shared the story of how my dog helped me perform a waste audit in my house. I found things like a beverage cup and lid, packaging from shredded cheese and a plastic fork from take-out. Today, my trash contains a lot less single-use plastic, but there’s still packaging from items like cheese for which I haven’t yet found a convenient plastic-free alternative.

 Take a tour of the different rooms in your home or workplace. Make note of what single-use plastic you find. Also make note of the alternatives you’ve started using during Mind Your Plastic May.

Feeling social? Snap a few pictures of these alternatives and post them on Facebook or Instagram. Don’t forget to tag @AshevilleGreenWorks on Facebook and use #MindYourPlasticMay and #GoingPlasticFree. I’m particularly proud of my recent switch to a bamboo toothbrush and bar shampoo.

Do you still have room to ditch even more single-use plastic? Make a plan, with a timeline, for how you’re going to switch to plastic-free alternatives. After I finish the box of dryer sheets next month, I’m going to switch to wool dryer balls. Once the liquid shampoo is all gone, I’m going to recycle those plastic bottles and fully convert to bar shampoo. I’m buying some more reusable mesh produce bags and taking them on my next shopping trip. What do you plan to do? Write it down.

Dawn Chávez
Executive Director
​Asheville GreenWorks