Little ways in which you help the environment and/or reduce waste

[GunpowderGelatine]

I thought we could have a thread where we share the small low-effort ways in which we can make changes and reduce waste.

• we have a good waste digester. Smarter than a regular compost bin as it takes all food waste even bones. Got it at a discount at £30 and I love it, it gives me really lovely compost too and we literally have no food waste going in the black bin

• I buy as much second hand as possible, if the kids need new clothes I look for bundles on Facebook, I only really buy new shoes or specific clothing like costumes for book day. Most things are like new when given a good clean anyway.

• I've stopped buying DVDs and subscribed to Netlifx, and if I do get a specific DVD I go to CeX and get it second hand

• i refuse to buy anything with unnecessary packaging, like fruit and veg (I only buy it loose)

• use less bath water and limit the number of baths we take

• I wash everything at 30, if it's stained I'll go to 40 with a bit of Vanish on it and if it's smelly I use a white wine vinegar solution on it before I wash it

• I only use eco friendly cleaning products (this has helped with our allergies massively too, no more sneezing after wiping the tops down)

I try and stop DH from buying crisps (and DS just nicks them all if we do).
zzzz are you using the gloves for medical or washing up? If the latter, Traidcraft do fair trade natural rubber gloves. But Google says that you can compost latex. Worth trying one or two I suppose!
Multi you can get non-SLS bars e.g. on Etsy. I have the same problem.

I've started using brown parcel paper instead of wrapping paper (finished my wrapping paper stash first, I might add).

Ditto the change from shower gels to bar soap.

I also use cloth shopping bags. And try to buy local and seasonal produce, wherever possible, to reduce air miles.

I was just thinking about the Co-op - they were the first to use compostable plastic bags AND they made the technology available free. But no other supermarket chain has availed of it. I wonder if that's perhaps because they're making a fortune selling bags-for-life . . .

I very very rarely throw food away I rotate and meal plan the only thing in my food waste are things you can't eat like banana skins tea leaves coffee grounds bones
use face clothes and dish clothes instead of wipes and paper towels
we have a septic tank so bleach is not good would only use if someone had D&V it is just not necessary for regular cleaning

my DH is very good at DIY and mechanics and we fix things rather than buying new, we do not update phones or computers we keep using them and updating software my main business PC is over 12 years old, he repairs our car

my business is selling secondhand, vintage and antique items I have not found a eco friendly alternative to packing peanuts ( I have green compostable eco-flo which is biodegradable as made from starch) shredded paper is not good enough for china and breakables

I made my own marmalade.
I cooked the oranges in the pressure cooker (rapid cooking times). Oncethe oranges were cooked, I stood it to cool in the washing up bowl, filled with cold water...which became hot. I took the pressure cooker out and did the washing up in the hot water and then got on making the marmalade with the cooled oranges!

Ive been thinking about this a lot recently and made it my new Year resolution to be more environmentally aware - so I've :
Switched to soap and soap shampoo instead of gels
Arranged for milk delivered in glass bottles - I've even found my mum's old milk bottle holder to put on the front doorstep- so 'retro'.
I've started to make my own yogurt with the kit from EasiYo - so no more plastic yogurt pots
Make my own lunch in a box (much cheaper as well) for work
No more bottled water
Wash clothes/towels less often and at 30 degrees.

The amount of plastic and tat produced depresses me.

@GunpowderGelatine Can you give details of your waste digester?

Wow, loads of great ideas!
I use reusable nappies and wipes, bar soap, never use cleaning sprays. A bottle of bleach lasts me about 2 months!
We recycle the normal stuff and only have 1 car. I never buy new clothes, we just swap with family for the kids. I get mine off eBay or charity shop.
I want to try shampoo bars but not sure where to get them.

microfibre cloths for cleaning instead of kitchen roll
bar soap in the shower instead of shower gel
a refillable soap dispenser which i fill with liquid soap watered down
recycle all plastic bottles tins glass paper cardboard including toilet roll middles
tinned cat food instead of pouches
cat biscuits buy ones that are in paper bags not plastic ones
permanent shopping bags instead of carriers
keep one spray bottle for cleaning which i refill with watered down washing up liquid for general kitchen cleaning
started using tablets which come in a cardboard box from aldi for washing machine and use one instead of two per wash
in fact when i do use something that is not recyclable i feel guilty throwing in the bin but since i put my mind to it our wheelie bin is half as full as it used to be
i never buy bottles of water when out will go in a cafe and get a drink in a proper cup

@isseywithcats microfiber is plastic! I was shocked to find that out but its really bad for the environment as every time you wash or rinse it its releases micro bits of plastic in to the water which is too small to be filtered by water treatment plants and ends up in rivers.

Switched to an electric car.

Get electricity from a renewable energy provider.

Greatly reduced the amount of meat and diary we eat as a family.

Shop carefully so there is very little food waste.

Switched to an electric car; I’ve turned vegetarian and the rest of the family have drastically reduced their meat consumption; washable sanitary pads; and we purchase no single use drinks bottles.

Still a drop in the ocean though.

Oh, I forgot, we introduced a ‘no stuff’ rule. We are not purchasing anything which adds to the obscene piles of crap we already have in our house. Kids are allowed consumables such as books, games, art supplies etc but no more tat like LOL dolls and shopkins.

I don't have kids.
I only fly once every few years, and only within Europe since adulthood.
I don't drive.
I only heat the house to the mid/high teens... wear a hat & fingerless mitts if I need to.
I try to use the washing machine/dishwasher on sunny days, as we have solar panels, so not to draw as much electric from the grid.
Hang the laundry on the line to avoid tumble drying.
I buy 98% of my clothes from charity shops/Ebay (including bras and shoes).
I buy meat from the butcher's in my own Tupperware.
90% of my veg is British and seasonal, I either buy organic or I buy it loose taking my own mesh produce bags.
I cook everything from scratch.
I refill shampoo/washing up liquid from the refill station in the health food shop.

shampoo bars. I get them from Friendly Soap. I cannot find a decent conditioner alternative though.
Cotton cloths from the market to wash surfaces and dishes. Have given up sponges.
Milk in glass delivered.
Loo roll from Who Gives a Crap
Ditto kitchen roll.
Use foil or tupperwares instead of cling film. When Tupperware needs replacing I'm going to look at using tins.
No more bottled water if I can possibly help it.
Cordial instead of squash for the kids.
Fabric shopping bags.
Try to buy food in less packaging.

Made my own panty liners.
Can't convert the kids to using them though.

Put as much as I can in the recycling box.

Drookit
Cordial instead of squash for the kids.

What’s the difference?

We only heat the room we are using.
Gone down to one car.
Reducing food waste.
Walking more.
Get the food shop delivered.
Reduce buying unnecessary crap, I'm pretty good but DH still needs to work on that.
Buy second hand where possible.

Shop in charity shops
Use soap bars
Moved to bulb for my energy
Don't drive and have no plans to
Plastic tub for my lunch
Refillable coffee travel mug
Don't use wipes
Second hand furniture

Cordial instead of squash for the kids.

Why can't they just have tap water?

Food waste is collected here. Most things are recycled, the main thing I can't recycle is the black trays of ready meals.

I'm willing to do all the things that cost less and cut down on work for me to be green so:
don't drive
don't fly very often
don't wash clothes too often
don't have a tumble dryer anyway
don't have baths very often and am on a water meter
don't eat much meat
don't buy bottled water as tap water is free (but do buy diet coke, unfortunately not on tap yet!)
use my own bag rather than buying carrier bags (I'm surprised that's even mentioned as I though everyone did that since the charge)

I think a lot of that means my carbon footprint's not too high. Flying is the biggest thing of course and I do fly once every few years. (Last time was to Dublin, train and ferry were just so expensive).

I won't do the things that cost more e.g buying recycled stuff if it's more expensive than the 'normal' stuff, get a milkman, buy things without packaging that wouldn't last as long and I'd be creating more waste.

Totally not willing to not be warm though. That is a total red line as are cloth sanitary towels. I don't get along with my mooncup, but haven't given up forever. Might try again one day.

"Get the food shop delivered."

How is that more environmental than walking to the shops?

Leftovers mostly go in the fridge here in a china bowl with a plate on top (occasionally in a plastic box)
Never clingfilm, rarely foil
Any used foil goes in recycling with cans etc (after washing)
Have started saving plastic bottle lids (milk, juice etc) to send to Lush
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I always have shopping bags in car but the men in the house are less organised 🙄
Who Gives a Crap say their recycled paper is greener. I previously bought bamboo, when it was all they did, but tried recycled paper this time - bamboo much nicer.
(Still a bit iffy about it being wrapped individually, & shipped from who knows where, but 3rd world loos is great )