Steps towards zero waste - 2019

Nonnadiluca

We put a bag of recycle waste out every week and a bag of general waste out once a fortnight, this in spite of never buying ready made anything: everything made from scratch including bread, biscuits, composting everything compostable - I have no idea where it comes from!!!
The reason I put out a bag every two weeks instead of half a bag weekly, is that, although the amount of rubbish is the same, I am saving 26 black bin bags per yea. Every little helps ☺

miss_empty_piggy

The only bin that I have put out this year so far is the brown bin. This had 4 bags of compostable waste in it - but I don't like to mount this up as it starts to smell. I only put cooked food into these bags, anything compostable at home goes into my compost bin or up to the allotment.

The Green bin currently has 1 small carrier-bag size of rubbish in it which has all been washed and dried.

The Blue bin has a single layer of crushed coke cans and 2 washing up liquid bottles in it to date. My aim is to put the blue bin out ONCE by the end of the year. The green bin I'm aiming for maximum of 4 times this year.

This is my own personal waste-related challenge that I've set myself.

SuiDreams

Our waste system is very poor compared to most, we have 1 wheelie bin for general waste collected weekly, this is usually just covering the bottom of the bin, but put it out every week to ensure it doesn't smell and in case I miss a collection. We also have a hessian bag for recyclables collected fortnightly, this is a lot smaller than a wheelie bin so tends to be quite full. We have garden waste collections but these are fortnightly between May and October Only. We have no compostable waste collections.


I try not to use bin bags and put things directly into the wheelie bin where possible. I'm going to purchase some reusable garden waste bags this year, to save on buying bags and reduce plastic waste.

ailz95

We use pull up incontinence pants for MIL. Until she got so bad I had been buying biodegradable pads, but you can't buy the pants. I've looked at the washables, but it's not just urine, so really don't want to wash them. I cook most meals from scratch and have bought - in the last 2 years - a lot of reusable plastic takeaway containers. DH likes his shop bought pizza and MIL has shop bought quiche and pizza alternate nights - I must look into making my own.:doh: why haven't I done this before?

Nonnadiluca

Home made pizza is really easy, once you get into the routine of making the dough. It's much nicer than shop bought and a fraction of the price. We have one every Saturday!
Latest success, I made some oatcakes, like the Nairn's ones: hardly any ingredients, really easy to make and no packaging.

Slinky

I've just fished out of the cupboard, what I hope will be our last plastic pan scourer. Have been meaning to find alternatives for a while and have ordered some coconut ones for future use. I hope they work well as they are compostable apparently.

maryb

I ordered some charcoal sticks to keep in a jug of water to neutralise chlorine. Works very well, quicker than just leaving the jug to stand so the chlorine can evaporate, which I always forget to do. It doesn't leave black dust in the water and the tea is no longer a bit scummy. No more expensive Brita filters, yay

GreyQueen

Slinky wrote: »

I've just fished out of the cupboard, what I hope will be our last plastic pan scourer. Have been meaning to find alternatives for a while and have ordered some coconut ones for future use. I hope they work well as they are compostable apparently.

I'd be interested to know where you're getting these from, if you wouldn't mind? I'm also in the position of using up plasticy nylony scourer thingummies of various styles. Most of which were given to me, in unopened pkts, by a rellie having a clear out years ago.


I'm contemplating experimenting with knitting some scourers out of undyed jute string, which I have a considerable quantity of. Not sure how well it would work, but it is certainly biodegradable.


Today's project is a jute bag-for-life which I acquired as a freebie with some 2nd hand goods this week. Useful size, but has some damage. The handle which was starting to come off has been restitched by hand, but both handles have worn half-through where you actually hold them. These are strappy handles, not those nice padded ones which you sometimes get on the pricier jute shopping bags.


I am thinking about how I shall handle (sorry, couldn't resist ) this problemo and am trending towards a sausage of patterned or plain cotton fabric from the stash, to make comfy hand-grips.

Lifeisforliving19

Slinky wrote: »

I've just fished out of the cupboard, what I hope will be our last plastic pan scourer. Have been meaning to find alternatives for a while and have ordered some coconut ones for future use. I hope they work well as they are compostable apparently.

Coconut scourer sounds interesting. Where do you get them from?

SuiDreams

Current thoughts for gift giving this year is to give presents in a fabric shopping bag, instead of using a gift bag / wrapping. That should reduce waste and encourage others to always use a reusable bag rather than plastic.


Also trying to make good swaps, making sure than by swapping to something that is zero / lower waste I'm not making a bigger impact elsewhere, e.g. higher chemical/fuel/energy impact or a non cruelty free product. I've managed to swap quite a few items for British products as well so support British manufacturers.


Also when buying clothing trying to buy more sustainable items and reduce plastics/man made fibres in my wardrobe.


Also decluttering the house and taking unused items to charity shop.