Journey to Zero Waste
26 watchers
Sep 2018
11:01pm, 9 Sep 2018
3,253 posts
|
run free
Interestingly - London has recently signed up to going zero waste!!! mrw.co.uk |
Sep 2018
12:57am, 10 Sep 2018
236 posts
|
Jenelopy
We don't put our waste out very often - we have to pay for council approved bin bags, so only put it out when full. We last put one out 20 months ago, and that had 2.5 years of waste in it. We wouldn't manage that if we didn't have a worm farm compost heap and chicken run. It also helps that we don't eat meat, and I use a menstrual cup rather than towels, so the rubbish isn't especially smelly. |
|
Sep 2018
1:03am, 10 Sep 2018
237 posts
|
Jenelopy
It would be good to reduce our waste further. The main things in our rubbish are: 1. dish cloths - I was just minimising the number I needed - they got used for dishes until too manky, then for household cleaning, then for toilets, then in the rubbish. I plan to try crocheting those from my stash, or using rags. 2. tetra paks - we've pretty much stopped buying anything in them 3. pill sheets (e.g. paracetamol, hayfever) - Any good ideas for that? 4. sticky tape from cardboard boxes, long story... We often buy in bulk, or use cardboard boxes in the supermarket to bring our groceries home. They they get used for storing kindling/firewood in, they they become mulch in the veggie garden. We don't want sticky tape in the garden so peel that off first, and put it in the rubbish. We have a large garden that was very overgrown when we moved in 6 years ago, so it adds up! I guess eventually, our garden will be less weedy (and the crops will out compete the weeds!), and we wont want cardboard boxes for this. |
Sep 2018
7:05am, 10 Sep 2018
18,227 posts
|
Lizzie W
Great stuff, jenelopy! I can't imagine ever getting to that point! If the dishcloths are cotton/bamboo etc, can you compost or wormery them? If you're assembling the boxes, there is brown paper tape, might not be strong enough though. There is tetrapak recycling in the UK. |
|
Sep 2018
7:08am, 10 Sep 2018
18,228 posts
|
Lizzie W
Confession: we have an empty wormery (I put too much waste in one go 😢) and I havent been brave enough to repopulate it. My compost bin is a thriving ant colony...
|
|
Sep 2018
9:33pm, 10 Sep 2018
3,255 posts
|
run free
Hey Jen - that is pretty awesome going. Am a long way from 2.5 years as am slowly training my guys to BYOR & constantly remind / nag them to do so! At the beginning of this year finally got one of them to bring his own cup for coffee. However it does take about 4-6 months to fill our general bin mainly with plastic wrappings & 1.5 months to fill our recycle bins mainly with plastic packaging. Our neighbours occasionally use our bins!!!
|
|
Sep 2018
9:34pm, 10 Sep 2018
3,256 posts
|
run free
Pill sheets are a hard one. Once upon a time the pharmacies used to provide pill bottles that you could return. Then convenience came in  Lizzie - at least the ants are having a great time
|
|
Sep 2018
10:41pm, 19 Sep 2018
3,259 posts
|
run free
If anyone cares about what is happening when you put your recyclables in the recycling bin. What is happening to it and why everyone should consider moving towards a zero waste household scmp.com
|
Sep 2018
10:58pm, 19 Sep 2018
50,396 posts
|
swittle
Worth a listen. Forthright views. bbc.co.uk |
|
Sep 2018
12:47pm, 20 Sep 2018
3,260 posts
|
run free
Am concerned when companies simply talk about switching over from plastic packaging to paper based packaging as this is a backward step. Think of a future where all shops now use paper based packaging. Not all corporations will be discerning enough to use sustainable forestry and consumers will certainly not care enough. Needs to be a blend of what really needs packaging + consumers change their behaviour to bring their own reusable containers / bags. Take away from the BBC talk: What needs to be thought about is the life cycle of the product + its implication on a world view on our resources + how future waste can be managed better than simply the old fashion ways of landfil or incineration |
Related Threads
-
Reusable/collapsible water cups
Oct 2024
-
Reducing single-use/disposable plastic
Sep 2024
-
The Green Runners
Apr 2024
-
Preventing Food Waste Ideas
Dec 2021
-
Shred everyone - the Fetchland paperless office thread
Aug 2021
-
Retirement home for trainers
Jul 2021
-
Recycling in the current new world
Apr 2020
-
Christmas - lowering the carbon footprint.
Dec 2019
-
Re-usable, collapsible cups
Jul 2018
-
Show Me Your Bottle!
Apr 2017