Steps towards zero waste - 2019

SuiDreams

I'm carrying on finding new ways of cutting waste, it seems to take a while to make a noticeable difference though. General waste bin has very little in it, most of the time it barely covers the bottom of the bin, but still put the bin out as rather have the waste collected rather than it sit there getting smelly. Trying to make replacement products more ethical and sustainable and having been buying more britsh made products.

greenbee

I've been working on reducing waste for a long time, trying harder sometimes than others. I'm off work recovering from flu at the moment, and pottering about tidying up (my utility room has just been redone so I'm sorting out the storage) has revealed that there is still a lot of stuff that ends up as 'rubbish'. This thread has got me thinking a bit more about what I can do.

I live in a (relatively) rural location, and travel a lot for work both of which have their own complications.

Work travel means I do tend to end up using travel toiletries as I travel with hand luggage only most of the time and can't take much with me. While a lot of hotels (particularly in the nordics where I spend a lot of time) now have dispensers rather than individual products, you never know what they will have so I need to take conditioner/body lotion as a minimum. I also take face/makeup remover wipes to reduce my liquids, and handwipes (hand hygiene is important while travelling) and lots of handcream! Moving to solid toiletries (if I can keep them dry for packing) would have significant benefits at airport security!

Our drinking water is vile. Water bottles and the plastic shrinkwrap are probably my biggest contributor to recycling. I do filter water for cooking/hot drinks/hot water bottles, but can't drink the stuff cold - even with cordial it can be unpleasant. I've ordered some activated charcoal to see whether it is an improvement on the jug filter. When the kitchen is (finally) done, I do want to look at an undersink filter system, so need to work out one that minimises non-recyclable waste.

Our recycling is hopeless. No food waste, no tetrapak, no kerbside glass etc. I do try to walk to the bottle bank regularly, but at the moment my garage is still in chaos from the utility room having been redone, so the glass is piling up. Tetrapaks (I use longlife organic milk for yogurt making and rice/oat milks for porridge/coffee) go back to my mum when I visit (so are also stored in the garage).

Shopping is complicated by the work travel. I use A&C for a veg box, when I'm at home on delivery day. I sometimes get milk and yogurt from them (travel disrupts my yogurt culture!). I'm thinking of switching to glass packaged yogurt - it's a big price increase, but I don't eat that much of it. However, their milk is all in plastic. Milk&More do deliver here, but I'm not sure how well they'd fit with my erratic schedule. I might give them a go and see how I get on - not sure how impressed they'll be with my 1pt a week, but they do go to the house opposite so it isn't much more effort - if there are other things I can get from them it may well work out and be particularly useful on the weeks I miss A&C. I have noticed the higher volume of packaging when I use supermarkets (not something that happens often).

I haven't managed to find any zero waste shops here, which is sad. I buy a lot of stuff in bulk from the health food shop, but there's still a lot of plastic packaging for things like dried fruit and pulses. Again, once the kitchen is done it may be worth a special trip to bulk buy occasionally.

As I'm sorting out the utility room storage I'm trying to locate baskets and containers from around the house to reuse. As plastic containers die they will replaced with natural materials (or metal in the case of the mop bucket). I've got rid of a lot of plastic food containers recently as the local homeless shelter wanted them, so they've been replaced with glass - although most have plastic lids which I need to reconsider. They still seem to be the easiest option for the freezer. I haven't used clingfilm for ages, and rarely use foil or kitchen roll (the latter generally when I have builders around who seem to leave a trail of clearing up behind them!). Cleaning products are minimal, bought in 5l containers and refilled, but was pleased to get the tip about citric acid as I found a bag and can't remember why I bought it!

Lots of stuff to sort out in the garage - offcuts of wood will be turned into kindling (ash will be composted), and quite a few bits and pieces will go to the CS. I have masses of screws in various sizes and materials, which came from my dad's workshop. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can get rid of these? They're not separated, but they're perfectly useable. I just don't need them!

SuiDreams

Greenbee - we don't have any Zero waste stores here, or have I been able to find bottled milk. Food is an issue for me as I am Ceoliac so some of the packaging free food options I can't use due to cross contamination issues, but I have cut down plastic and waste in many other ways.


I already am a very low gas and electric user and don't waste energy. I walk most places so again that is good. I have always used tubs instead of food bags / clingfilm and rarely buy bottled drinks, so feel I was starting from quite a good place.


One of the best swaps has been using Splosh for laundry / cleaning products, have refillable bottles and the refills are sent back and reprocessed, this cuts a lot of waste. The products are very concentrated as well so again that lessens plastic as well.


Everytime I need to buy something I try and see if I can find a less waste / more ethical / sustainable option.

ailz95

Our drinking water is vile. Water bottles and the plastic shrinkwrap are probably my biggest contributor to recycling. I do filter water for cooking/hot drinks/hot water bottles, but can't drink the stuff cold - even with cordial it can be unpleasant. I've ordered some activated charcoal to see whether it is an improvement on the jug filter. When the kitchen is (finally) done, I do want to look at an undersink filter system, so need to work out one that minimises non-recyclable waste.

Our water is grim too - very hard. I've bought activated charcoal and now find it drinkable.

I've bought some Ecoegg Bamboo - paper towels'. They are washable up to 80 times at 40 degrees. I also have small cloths in an open box as we'll use them instead of paper towels and then wash them afterwards. I've started putting a cloth down where we make our hot drinks - that soaks up any spills and then it gets thrown in the wash.

I made a batch of dishwasher powder - tweaked it a little - it's doing a good job. I've got vinegar sprays and love mixing it with bicarb - lovely little fizz bombs. I've also got other cleaning recipes to try. We're on a septic tank rather than sewers so chemicals can leach into the fields.

A couple of years ago I decided that my m-i-l (she's 97) wasn't having any more chemical ridden ready meals, so started making my own. At the time I bought a lot of plastic, reusable containers for the freezer, so I won't be replacing those until they all fall apart - I think I've got 30 that I haven't even opened yet - they were on special offer.

Nonnadiluca

Ooh, home made dishwasher powder! Can I have the recipe please?

greenbee

ailz95 wrote: »

Our water is grim too - very hard. I've bought activated charcoal and now find it drinkable.

My activated charcoal arrived today, so I've washed out two drinking water carafes, put tap water and the charcoal in one and filtered water in the other, shoved them in the fridge, and am going to do a taste test every 2 hours.

I'm very lazy about putting filtered water in the fridge, partly because there wasn't room in my old fridge, so if they both taste acceptable I'll keep doing this so I always have a couple of bottles chilled. Even if they're OK for cordial (and visitors) and not drinking straight it will help keep costs down.

Of course, I've just stocked up on bottled water...

dollypeeps

Lifeisforliving19 wrote: »

Sounds like you are doing amazingly well.:T I love cleaning with white vinegar. Mix with bicarb and lemon juice. Also mix with warm water for windows. Also makes a great weedkiller. I will find out the weedkiller recipe and post if anybody is interested. Do you buy it in bulk from Amazon? That's the cheapest place I have found.:)

I haven't really looked as I only use a small quantity of bicarbonate but I think will do a box and also other ethical cleaning products that are not overly wrapped in plastic ....
For me at the moment, I'm having to factor cost into the equation too....I'm running down the previous cleaning products ( although the there weren't too many) deciding on the few that I use daily and then replacing with more 'friendly' items both in terms of packaging and environmently friendly ....

It kinda funny how 'the old ways' are more ethical ....

Trying to think of a way of storing my homemade stuffing .....usually we bag it and freeze it so any ideas, if not for this time but certainly for the future would be fab....

-taff

greenbee wrote: »

I have masses of screws in various sizes and materials, which came from my dad's workshop. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can get rid of these? They're not separated, but they're perfectly useable. I just don't need them!

See if a local Mens Shed will want them.

greenbee

-taff wrote: »

See if a local Mens Shed will want them.

Grest idea. I know there is one in the next village, and they have a FB group so I will message them! (I’d better locate the tubs of screws first otherwise it could be embarrassing!).

ailz95

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent/Scouring Powder:



2 cups Baking Soda
2 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1/4 cup dishwasher Salt
1/4 cup citric acid
15 drops Lemon Essential Oil


Combine and store in airtight container. If you have a leftover silica gel packet from a bottle of medicine or a shoe box, throw the packet in the container with the detergent – it will help prevent clumping!

Add 1-2 tablespoons per load
(Place a small cup half full of white vinegar on the top rack.) The vinegar makes a HUGE difference! Makes the glasses shine!

This is the tweaked version - the difference is the an extra cup of washing soda. The recipe is by One good thing website.