Don't Throw Anything Away Challenge

zippychick

As we already have the Don't throw food away challenge and this is more general (rather than Old Style), I've moved this to the green and ethical board to see if you get some handy tips over here

Zip

Doom_and_Gloom

valk_scot wrote: »

So finally, as a family of four, we end up with a not quite full black bin liner of rubbish a week. What's in this? ...sanitary products (I used to burn these but we're not allowed fires on the allotment now)

Have you thought about using reusable pads or a mooncup?
I made my own reusable pads from material that was given to me and old towels that were very worn but still very absorbant.
They are very easy and cheap to make with a sewing machine. They go in the washing machine when we do a load as they don't take up a lot of space. You can buy them but they are not as cheap that way but if you do not know how to sew etc then is perfect.
Or as I said a mooncup which you can buy for less than £20 and lasts around 10 years. Both are very good for the environment.

As for the OP we do lots to reduce packaging coming into the house, reuse everything we can and recycle what we can as well.

Reducing

• partner has a straight razor to shave so no need to buy more razor heads for him
• I use solid shampoo and conditioner - less packaging
• I use reusable pads
• make most of my own soya milk using soya milk maker - a 500g bag can make over 6 litres so the packaging difference is huge
• rechargable batteries
• buy coffee beans and grind ourselves - the beans come in paper bags
• only buying the food we need

Reuse

• cardbord boxes get cut up and put in the chinchillas collection litter tray
• glass jars get used again for jams/chutney etc
• my parents give us the plastic chinese contaners for our home made ready meals (we do the same also but it is rare for us to get take out in the first place!)
• all of the coffee jars my parents go through are given to us. They are perfect to store pulses, seeds, nuts etc in
• old tops/socks etc can be used to clean up spills instead of buying kitchen roll and it is better than just chucking them if they are no good for charity shops
• if you make too much food put it in a container and into the freezer
• see if a friend wants something you no longer need but is still good
• do a clothes swap with friends

Recycle

• give clothes/toys/furniture etc that are good to chairity
• all plastic
• tins
• foil
• glass bottles
• etc

Joan49

Has anyone got any suggestions about what to do with used cooking oil. Oxfordshire is quite good at recycling but my recycling centre doesn't take oil and the nearest is a 40 mile round trip, not very enviromentally friendly. At the moment I pour it back into a bottle and put it in the landfill bin. I can't find anyone locally who collects small amounts. Any suggestions please?

JGreen456

Everything is reusable with a little imagination.
The good thing about a recession is it will make people thing more about reducing costs and waste.
Also the green party must be loving recessions as we consume less and less factories spewing out polution and we all try and reduce our home heating bills.
If you know you are not going to throw anything away to see if you can do it, it does make you avoid buying particularly wasteful things too, from packaging to getting it second hand or direct from producer instead of new with all the wateful extra bits you don't need.

esmf73 wrote: »

Ben84 - wow - what you're saying makes sense and yes I try to do this, reuse, freecycle, charity etc and we have dogs who ensure we have no waste food. I know I could still get my household rubbish down further though and am now intending to do so. Yesterday OH broke the kitchen bin, so I swopped it for the smaller bathroom bin. I was going to throw the kitchen bin away, but have now decided that I will use it to "force" my rhubarb! Will have to stake it down during the gales though!! Wonder if it will work?