My war on waste!!!

Ben84

I like the idea of waste reduction, but recycling can derail good intentions by encouraging people to seek out recyclable packaging. Sounds fine on the surface, but swapping lightweight, low embodied energy plastic packaging for heavy, energy intensive metal, glass and cardboard/paper alternatives just because they're recyclable is I'm sure overall harming the environment. I used to recycle lots, but it never felt right that actively buying stuff in recyclable packaging meant generating lots more rubbish than before. These days I throw everything out in the black bin, but only put the bin out about three times a year for our household of three people. Buying unpackaged and reusing stuff is the main reason, but after that, lightweight, non-recyclable packaging significantly helps us to achieve this low amount of household waste. Recycling doesn't have to be part of the solution, in fact I found it a distraction that consumed time and effort, and have significant doubts it does any good at all. The way it encourages people to swap low energy/mass packaging for high energy/mass packaging is one of the problems. None of the pro-recycling groups seem to ever consider the implications of this when they suggest actively buying recyclable packaging.

Anyway, there's quite a few types of waste reduction routes. Intensive recycling is one, although sending waste out by different routes may not be considered waste reduction by some as it's still waste. Minimising waste, regardless of recycling it or not is another angle. We fall completely in the latter, and it seems to work for us. Are we really the only low/zero waste household that doesn't recycle? Well, technically I suppose a true zero waste house wouldn't recycle or landfill anything, but that has significant challenges. A lot of what ends up in our bin is the difficult stuff, the lightbulbs, toothbrushes and broken glasses and things like that which just don't have any further use, or even if we were interested in it, recycling options.

GreyQueen

:T Well said, Ben84.

Many hard core waste-reductionists are a bit anti recycling because it is actually counter-productive and the aim should be to refuse excessive packaging in the first instance. Could say more, gotta fly, early start today.

NewShadow

I've had a few arguments with people about bags for life and canvas shopping bags compared single use bags.

There was a study carried out, and it found that (cherry picking quotes):

"A significant part of the environmental impact of these bags is associated with the resources used in their production," an Environment Agency spokesman said. "All multi-use bags need to be reused as much as possible to reduce their relative environmental impact and be responsibly recycled at the end of their life."

The study also found that even if the single-use plastic bag is reused as a bin liner, bags for life only have to be used seven times in order to have a lower carbon footprint.

Similarly, premium bags for life that look as if they are made from plastic have to be used 11 times if they are to have a lower carbon impact than single-use bags, while cotton bags have to be used at least 131 times.

The report also found that if bags are only used once, single-use plastic bags are the best option and have a lower carbon footprint than single-use paper bags.

"Agonising over bags misses the point. There are much bigger targets supermarkets are helping customers to work on, such as reducing food waste. To obsess over bags distracts consumers from making bigger changes to their habits which would do more to benefit the environment."

Most people I know feel 'vindicated' if they use their plastic bag for life twice.

As it happens, you need to use that bag for your weekly shop for two to three months before it's equal to a single use bag.

ETA - http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2028024/plastic-bag-analysis-confirms-bags-life-carbon-savings

forgot to add reference!

lillibet_dripping

Thanks Ben for an excellent post. Very thought-provoking. There seem to be so many arguments both for and against and I'm not sure which side of the fence I'm on at the moment.

On the pre-cycling front though, I fired off an email to Premier Foods who sell the Batchelors Smash product. After checking the recycling info on the tub, it seems only the lid is recyclable. I checked their policies section on their website and they reel off the usual blah blah about helping the environment, reducing waste etc. etc.
So I quoted themselves back and asked what they were doing about producing an alternative to the tub that CAN be recycled. Watch this space for the reply!

NOTE: Before any of you blast me about using Smash, I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and some days I cannot even hold a knife, let alone peel potatoes or lift a pan of boiling water or the potato ricer. Needs must....
Likewise, the shaky bag chicken. Try lifting a heavy roasting tray with a whole chicken in it out of a knee-high oven!
FYI ..... I retired from teaching Food Technology because of RA and I am a BBC MasterChef semi-finalist, so yes, I do know what I'm doing in the kitchen - just can't always do it!!!

Justamum

NewShadow wrote: »

Most people I know feel 'vindicated' if they use their plastic bag for life twice.

We were given a bag for life in Tesco the other week. It ripped on first use! I'll stick to my cloth bags (most of which I've made myself)

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

NOTE: Before any of you blast me about using Smash, I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and some days I cannot even hold a knife, let alone peel potatoes or lift a pan of boiling water or the potato ricer. Needs must....

You don't have to justify using Smash! I've used it occasionally myself (not Smash as such, but Tesco Value which wasn't too bad actually)

Justamum

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

and I am a BBC MasterChef semi-finalist,

Well done you. Is Greg Wallace as irritating as he seems?

GrannyKate

Nearly had to buy a carrier bag this morning as had only taken one in shop then saw good selection of YS offers. Happily check out lady looked at my joints and said they are a bit leaky so I'll put them in a bag so got free one. Lesson to self keep spare samosad bags in handbag.

lillibet_dripping

Justamum wrote: »

Well done you. Is Greg Wallace as irritating as he seems?

Sorry to disappoint, Justamum - this was pre-Greg Wallace. Back in the days of Lloyd Grossman/Gary Rhodes.
Still quite an achievement and one of which I'm proud....

Re: Smash, I also use it to thicken soups and casseroles and make fish cakes. On 'bad' RA days, you should see some of the things we eat in this household!!!

lillibet_dripping

Early this morning, I posted this email to Marigold Health foods regarding their packaging on Maggi Swiss Vegetable Bouillon:

Having watched 'Hugh's War on Waste' I have become much more conscious of the amount of waste that my household is producing.
I have just finished a tub of Swiss Vegetable Bouillon but can't find any recycling information on the tub.
Can you please advise the best way to dispose of this packaging.

And I have just received this reply:

Thanks for your email. I’m always very happy to hear when people start paying more attention to their footprint on the planet. I haven’t seen ‘Hugh’s War on Waste’ but am very aware of the ridiculous amount of non-biodegradeable waste that we dump in landfill sites, it is truly horrible.
You will be happy to hear that the cardboard used to make our bouillon containers is at least 50% recycled already, has been recycled up to 5 times and they CAN be put into the recycling again. As the attached document states “The can body is used as energy for the metal recovery” sothe cardboard is not recycled again but used to facilitate the recycling of the metal. The plastic lids are polypropylene and can also be recycled so the whole tub can be put in the recycling. Most councils say not to put aluminium foil in the recycling so maybe the foil seal should be put in the regular bin, do check with your local authority as to whether this can be recycled too.
Thanks for showing an interest and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions

Well done Marigold Health Foods for your prompt reply.:T

eandjsmum

meritaten wrote: »

Yeah - but then they discovered 'gift baskets' made much more profit!

And sold out to L'Oriel
I used to take my washed out body shop bottles back for refilling, but didn't think that they refilled any more.

My sister takes her Ecover containers back to a little local hardware store for recycling.

I don't like plastic bag for life type bags, they always split for me. Cass Art do their own version of bags for life, (clothish type ones) idf they tare, split or wear out you just have to take them back and they give you a new one no questions asked.
A few years ago there was a web site, Morse bags encouraged people to make their own bags they printed instructions on their website.