Zero Waste

Purple_Sparkles

I'm trying to reduce the amount of 'rubbish' that I put out for the bin men, ideally I'd like to get it to zero.

Would anyone like to join me?

I already try to re-use things, not buy items with excess packaging, compost kitchen waste etc but I'm sure there is plenty of room for improvement.

Any ideas gratefully received

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pmorrisjones

Yes I would love to join you. Most things in bin are tetrapaks and plastic wrapping. We live 40 miles from recycling for this sort. I do try to buy unwrapped objects but usually they are then from a far flung country (why does British food usually come packed?) We did have a farmers market but that closed. We often go to town 8 miles away where they have a weekly market and get local food there (we take our own bags and they are grateful) but still we use the car. Dilemmas, dilemmas. Still, count me in re-reductions in packaging. It may make me think more about it.

Purple_Sparkles

Welcome pmorrisjones. Today I've been very good as I've not yet had to put anything in the rubbish. I don't use clingfilm anymore, plenty of saved plastic tubs in the cupboard. I do get my milk from the milkman and it's in glass bottles :j also the 'pop' man uses glass bottles that they collect each week, it's great as it's a local company who manufacture down the road and have a delivery service.

I've given away a large roasting tin today to a lady who lives just down the road, I don't roast large joints of meat and it was just in the way.

I'm making over my garden too using as many recycled items as possible, slabs that were the path have made a wall to support the decking which is being made out of free broken pallet wood from a company about 1/2 mile away. Raised beds have been made out of an old wooden shelving unit and a raised area for my polytunnel has been created out of my sons old skateboard ramp (I did ask him first). I'll post some pics when I find my camera.

Everytime I think I need something or have something to 'bin' I think if it's of use to somebody else or can it be reused. I drive my son crazy but he understands why I'm doing it. Every little helps!

moonrakerz

Purple_Sparkles wrote: »

Every little helps!

If you are trying to achieve zero waste - don't shop there !

Purple_Sparkles

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

But seriously I rarely use a supermarket, probably 3 times a year.

Purple_Sparkles

As far as my zero landfill challenge which I started on Friday is going, I don't think I'm doing too badly. I had to buy 2 bags of compost yesterday but the plastic bags I use as linings for hanging baskets, planters etc.... We had chippy for dinner last night, I was so shattered that I couldn't face cooking - domestic chores are kind of on hold while the gardens are being done. The wrappers I was having a bit of a dilema about as they couldn't go into compost but the dogs sorted that out in the night and ate them! Not what I had intended but they helped I suppose.

So number of items for landfill yesterday - ZERO :j:j.

Moggles_2

Originally Posted by Purple_Sparkles
... the 'pop' man uses glass bottles that they collect each week. It's great as it's a local company who manufacture down the road and have a delivery service.

If only there were more firms prepared to market their goods in reuseable containers. At least my milkman delivers organic milk in glass bottles now. (Each bottle is washed and re-used 14 times, apparently.)

In some parts of Europe (e.g. Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden), container deposit legislation was passed years ago and drinks are sold in returnable deposit bottles.

geordie_joe

Moggles wrote: »

(Each bottle is washed and re-used 14 times, apparently.)

How do they keep count?

Speaking as someone who grew up in the glass bottle era, I fully support it. I remember milk coming in glass bottles and being returned to the milkman. I also remember a 10p deposit on pop and beer bottle. Spent many happy times doing chores and getting paid in returnable bottles.

People keep going on about carrier bags being a litter problem, but the fact is plastic bottles are far more of a problem.

These days you are more likely to see people carrying bottles of water than you are carrier bags.

Also, when a person is walking down the street carrying something in a carrier bag, there is a good chance they will need that carrier bag until they get home. Therefore they will not throw it away mid journey.

On the other hand, some carrying a bottle of water is likely to finish it before they finish their journey and just throw the bottle away.

Moggles_2

Originally Posted by geordie joe
How do they keep count?

There's a serial no.on the bottle

geordie_joe

Moggles wrote: »

There's a serial no.on the bottle

I knew there had to be a way

Of course you realise the milkmen will take a leaf out of the councils book. They'll put an electronic tag on the bottle and if you leave more than thee drops of water in it when you rinse it out they'll fine you.

Moggles_2

Originally Posted by geordie joe
People keep going on about carrier bags being a litter problem, but the fact is plastic bottles are far more of a problem. You are more likely to see people carrying bottles of water than you are carrier bags.

Also, when a person is walking down the street carrying something in a carrier bag, there is a good chance they will need that carrier bag until they get home. Therefore they will not throw it away mid journey. On the other hand, someone carrying a bottle of water is likely to finish it before they finish their journey and just throw the bottle away.

If we're serious about achieving zero waste, the profligate use of disposable plastic carriers and containers both need to be tackled.

As someone who lives minutes walk from a supermarket, I can assure you that carrier bags are strewn across the street and dumped in our front gardens (along with non-returnable bottles) on a daily basis. :mad: