Fortnightly Waste collection in Newtownabbey

suki1964

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Do they recycle tetra pack in Ballymena? Anyone know of any possibilities in or around Belfast??

I dont know but they have a collection point at the "dump" in Ballymoney (dont go in the recycle bin) so it may be worth ringing your council and checking?

suki1964

miserly_mum wrote: »

On reflection a lot of space is taken up in my bin with the plastic trays meat from supermarkets come in. Been looking on a few websites and there doesn't seem to be anywhere to recycle these in Newtownabbey. Perhaps someone can prove me wrong ?

I will try to buy more from my local butcher instead. Its just so much more convenient getting everything from Asda.

We have cut down drastically on how much food stuff we have to throw out. This has been a positive by-product of doing the Monthly Grocery challenges on MSE in a bid to save money.

Now you are actually having to think about your waste you are seeing where your waste is coming from - SUPERMARKETS

We (as a family) have so little waste as we don't shop at the supermarkets - or rather we don't get everything from there. Not only do we use our own bags but I walk about the town and go from the butcher to the baker to the greengrocer (fish stall on Friday). The only extra packaging I get is the meat and fish in a bag. My mince doesn't need to come in a plastic tray laid upon a piece of plastic lining to taste good. My premium sausages given to me in the wee plastic bag are usually a lot cheaper then the ones in a plastic tray, covered in film and covered with a cardboard outer (and a lot cheaper). Fruit and veg? Like I said before its not going to harm any being put loose in my bag.

When I was a child I used to be sent to the market Saturday mornings with the shopping trolley and two empty egg boxes, Used to go to the veg stall and get the potatoes, cabbage, carrots etc - all weighed out and tipped in the trolley loose (mud included) then off to get the eggs - handed over the boxes that were filled from the trays. And Im not talking a million years ago either - 30 perhaps. We didnt die cos nothing was in plastic trays and cling filmed. We didnt need it then and we dont need it now. Just the supermarkets have us conditioned into thinking that we do

miserly_mum

Suki I used to shop like you do when I was first married and my older kids were litlle. Mainly because we lived in a small town with no Tescos etc. So it was butchers, greengrocers then the smallish local supermarket for the rest.

I'm ashamed to say as i've got older (and lazier) I detest going shopping especially grocery shopping so buy everything at Asda for convenience.

I'm definately going to get out of the habit, although for a lot of stuff it will still be Asda because we are on a budget and its just soooo cheap.

We do have 2 good butchers here though and I should visit them more often, if only to support small local businesses.

suki1964

Dont get me wrong, when I lived in England I supermarket shopped, but then I had no choice - the supermarkets had put the town centre shops out of business and there were no butchers or greengrocers.And with just the two of us, I filled a black sack with rubbish weekly - invariably with the plastic trays supermarkets feel we need to have everything placed into.

It was when i saw that Morrisons were individually cling wrapping peppers/cabbages and even coconuts I woke up to over packaging

miserly_mum

suki1964 wrote: »

Dont get me wrong, when I lived in England I supermarket shopped, but then I had no choice - the supermarkets had put the town centre shops out of business and there were no butchers or greengrocers.And with just the two of us, I filled a black sack with rubbish weekly - invariably with the plastic trays supermarkets feel we need to have everything placed into.

It was when i saw that Morrisons were individually cling wrapping peppers/cabbages and even coconuts I woke up to over packaging

Took little one to the park yesterday and popped into Asda for a couple of bits and pieces for dinner.

I automatically went for the plastic tray of mushrooms but then I remembered this thread and put it back and got the loose ones instead. :T

Something must be sinking in somewhere:rotfl:

suki1964

And its those little changes that add up to the big ones so well done you

Now I need to remember not only to put my reuseable bags in the car - but to take them out of the car when I make it to town to shop (yes Im not so organised either):rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: