My war on waste!!!

Attempt2save

Hello
This is my first post and wanted to say I have really enjoyed this thread and love all of the ideas!
I'm attempting to cut our waste and we are a family of 5 plus a cat.
I saved a bicarbonate pot that would have been binned and that could be used for my garden seeds. I had a broken China bowl so will use it in the pots in the garden.
I love coffee and had a tassimo machine but stared to get concerned with the amount of waste that comes with it so gave it to mum and dad and now I have on the pot stove and heat milk up, I then froth the milk up and put the coffee in and have my own homemade latte for a fraction of the cost and waste of the tassimo.
A few of my friends from a baby group wanted to make homemade presents so thanks to this thread I am going to make little shopping bags for the mums as I have lots of fabric and I'm going to make gingerbread biscuits for the kids. Hope they appricate it as I don't have a lot of money to go splashing out on presents.
I'm certainly more aware now when getting rid of things-thank you :T

FunBrum

Attempt2save....welcome!

You are certainly in the right place on these threads and well done on your war on waste so far!:T

lillibet_dripping

meritaten wrote: »

ah - I learned this at a local tourist attraction - in Tudor times they used moss to wipe their bottys! they didn't say if it was re-usuable - but I would assume it went on 'ye olde composte heape'.

... and the Romans used a sponge on a stick!!!

Sorry to all, have been MIA but still working on my bin. I'm pleased to say that I have got it down to one carrier bag PER MONTH in the general rubbish collection. Recycling continues apace as well as pre-cycling.
On the rare occasion that I wear make-up, I usually remove with olive oil and rinse with a hot cotton cloth. My skin feels really soft after this.
I'm also chucking lots more in the woodburner. I notice that I'm using lot of tissues - will try to find a pack of lovely old-fashioned hankies. My grandma always had a hankie tucked up the sleeve of her cardi!

There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 this morning about packaging. The presenter had an imaginary 1 million pounds to fund one of three schemes put forward by experts in their field who were trying to find solutions to different problems.
Today's dilemma was about reducing packaging.
One 'solution' was to grow a recylable material from fungi...
Another one was to put some sort of microchip in the packaging which 'melted' it after use ('not very environmentally friendly' was the general consensus) - can't remember the other solution. The mushroom idea was the favourite!!!

Fiftys1

Is anyone mindful about the amount of seasonal waste? I read recently that the discarded wrapping paper at Christmas in the uk alone would stretch to the moon. In our family we reuse gift bags and some have been swapped several times (still looking good). I had some fabric remnants and saved used ribbon and sewed some gift bags. I have tried to buy vegetables loose, made mince pies from scratch, recycle Christmas card envelopes. However we will probably still have at least a carrier bag of non recyclable waste to throw.

FunBrum

I haven't wrapped any gifts yet and have decided to just tie ribbon and bows on them. It's all recycled ribbon etc, and my family return it all back to me again anyway. They know what I'm like after all these years!

greenbee

I've reused wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbons. Anything that needs new wrapping gets brown paper which is easy to recycle. Sometimes I draw on it if I'm feeling energetic.

meritaten

well a load of used wrapping paper from last year (I had intended to iron it and re-use but forgot) will now be shredded and used to make a nest in some supermarket lettuce boxes for my 'Homemade Hampers' for DD and DILs. I may even (if I have the time) decoupage the boxes with some cutouts from it. come to think of it - I have my 8 yr old grandson tomorrow - I am sure he would love to do some 'cutting and glueing'! the added bonus being it will keep one very active child occupied!

Attempt2save

We had friends over today and unwrapped some presents, obviously the kids ripped the paper open but I managed to rescue most of it and it will be used again for pass the parcel at my sons birthday next month.
Now every pot that is emptied I'm thinking 'oh what can I use that for?' I just I hope I don't hoard too many bits but most things will go to the allotment.
Our fence needs replacing so will take pallets apart and make a new one.

FunBrum

Attempt2save.....You are on the same wavelength as me. I always look at things and give them a second and third life:D

tooties

WOW this is an amazing thread, thanks for starting it op.

We are a wasteful family but i have been inspired to make huge changes in the new year,
please keep all the ideas and tips coming my notepad is filling up with ideas but i still have plenty space to fill. And i have lots to think about.
I am feeling ashamed at our behaviour towards the way we gaily fill our landfill bin.

Happy Christmas everyone

regards