Steps towards zero waste - 2019

the_cross_rabbit

[QUOTE May be do a tag to hang from the handle of the bag to state what you are doing any why - or phrase it like 'I'm contributing to saving the planet in your name as part of my gift to you, so please re-use this bag again to save the planet that bit more'[/QUOTE]. This is a really good idea stirchleygirl.
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maryb

I’m currently in France and I noticed that all the supermarkets are now using biodegradable bags for loose fruit and veg, like the ones you get in the UK for lining food waste caddies. There was also a headline on the regional newspaper today that I saw someone reading saying “Europe bans disposable plastic.” .

They have had signs in supermarkets for years saying their till receipts are BPA free. It’s odd how they are quite far ahead of us in the UK in some ways and yet their recycling is quite restrictive

That may be because they only collect what can actually be recycled whereas our council collects most plastic but sends the low quality stuff for incineration

Anyway I had to smile when I saw a wine cork recycling box in the supermarket. Only in France

Twiggy_34

I've taken a couple of new steps this week in reducing plastic waste. Motivated by joining this thread, I've had my first glass bottle milk delivery. I've also decided to start buying bread mix to bake bread at home instead of buying bagged loaves in store. I've just had a couple of slices from the first loaf and all is good, I just hope it's as good over the next couple of days! I plan to buy a smaller tin so I can split the mix and make smaller loaves, as I rarely get through a whole large loaf before it goes over. This should work out a lot cheaper and a lot less wasteful than my old habits, plus it will be handy to have packs on standby so I should never be without bread when I need it most! I'm hoping these 2 changes will prove to be super mse as it should help to cut back on the supermarket trips quite nicely.

I just had a giggle to myself this evening as I realised how grateful I am that wine comes in glass bottles. I only have the occasional tipple but, blimey, that would be hard to go without!!!

ailz95

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

I've taken a couple of new steps this week in reducing plastic waste. Motivated by joining this thread, I've had my first glass bottle milk delivery. I've also decided to start buying bread mix to bake bread at home instead of buying bagged loaves in store. I've just had a couple of slices from the first loaf and all is good, I just hope it's as good over the next couple of days! I plan to buy a smaller tin so I can split the mix and make smaller loaves, as I rarely get through a whole large loaf before it goes over. This should work out a lot cheaper and a lot less wasteful than my old habits, plus it will be handy to have packs on standby so I should never be without bread when I need it most! I'm hoping these 2 changes will prove to be super mse as it should help to cut back on the supermarket trips quite nicely.

I just had a giggle to myself this evening as I realised how grateful I am that wine comes in glass bottles. I only have the occasional tipple but, blimey, that would be hard to go without!!!

I freeze bread while it is still fresh - works great for toast. There's only hubby eats bread in our household and otherwise it goes off.

Twiggy_34

I have tried freezing bread before but don't like the defrosted version unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion though

PasturesNew

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

I have tried freezing bread before but don't like the defrosted version unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion though

I often wonder if it's the "bread type" ... I find the 36p loaves from Aldi etc don't defrost well at all.... they're better if I freeze the first half of the loaf on the day I buy it, rather than freezing the last half a loaf on the date the packaging says it's best before ... but, when I buy a loaf, I've no idea how much I'll be using, so it seems "odd" to freeze the first half and not the last, I feel "cheated" of being able to eat as much "fresh bread" as I want to and only freeze what I didn't get round to (if that makes sense). So, I have to decide 5 days in advance how much loaf I think I'd have left over... so I just tend to freeze what's left on its last day and accept it'll defrost and toast up like cardboard.

Working_Mum

If anyone is following a low carb diet if you freeze bread and then toast it the carb count in reduced quite significantly by around 30%

-taff

I find fresh baked bread freezes really well and comes out like it went in. I get it sliced, then freeze the same day. Then I snap off however many slices I want and defrost on the worktop. Yes, i pay more for it, but it tastes much better and none of it is wasted.
Works with crusty rolls too, or the ciabatta type.

janb5

the_cross_rabbit wrote: »

If any of you are interested there is currently a petition to ask the UK government to debate in parliment to Ban the use of all non-recyclable and unsustainable food packaging. This is on a government website.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/232684
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I`ve signed too

jwil

the_cross_rabbit wrote: »

If any of you are interested there is currently a petition to ask the UK government to debate in parliment to Ban the use of all non-recyclable and unsustainable food packaging. This is on a government website.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/232684
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stirchleygirl wrote: »

Thanks the cross rabbit I've just signed it.

For those interested the govt is consulting on local councils being consistent with what recyclable items are collected (it is quite a long survey but worth persevering with)
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/consultation-on-consistency-in-household-and-busin/?fbclid=IwAR2ewm5-EBoQnEKDlG1CZOqyO1SdOL7NdXEc7b6Ss427dGZYPLkaEWSh68U

Just delurking

There are four consultations out at the moment. The consistency one above,
Deposit return scheme https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environment/introducing-a-deposit-return-scheme/supporting_documents/depositreturnconsultdoc.pdf

Plastic packaging tax https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779345/181213_Plastic_packaging_tax_condoc_template_final_1.0.pdf

Extended producer responsibility https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/consultation-on-reforming-the-uk-packaging-produce/supporting_documents/packagingeprconsultdoc.pdf

From a zero waste perspective - the extended producer responsibility will have the biggest impact. It will require producers (brands etc) to pay for the full costs of collection/recycling/disposal of the things they produce. There will be different levels of fees for recyclable and non recyclable packaging, so this, plus the proposed tax on plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic will help design out non-recyclable and less sustainable packaging as they will become more expensive to produce and dispose of. It's kind of addressing what that petition is asking for. This, combined with the consistent collections should mean that fewer different types of packaging are used, and that things are more clearly labelled so that people know what to do with them.

The Resources and Waste Strategy was published last year, and these consultations stem from that https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/resources-and-waste-strategy-for-england

There are lots of things going on in Europe too which will still impact us even post-Brexit as the government has confirmed that anything in place by the time we leave will be implemented here.