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)

Ah ok, I don't think we even have can recycling here, I'd have to check though. I take all my cans to the bottle / can / plastic recycling centre and do the whole lot there.

Just found a plastic free zero waste shop in my vague area which I've arranged to try out with my mum (she lives very near it so would be good for her, I don't live as close but nothing nearer unfortunately.)

I had a shower tonight and used soap, shampoo bar and conditioner bar.
previously 3 plastic bottles would have been used, plus all the chemicals they contain. small changes can make a difference

It would be great if recycling could be standardised nationally.

There are such massive variations, but IMO it’s clear that if some councils are able to take eg tetrapaks, or yogurt pots, or clear food trays, then really they all should

Spring that's an interesting article., thanks. Do you think an open can is ok if lidded? Like Giant I only do this occasionally.

Fab thread. I do some things but conscious that I should do much more. Atm I -
Never buy a carrier bag
Take milk bottle tops to work for charity recycling
Use used bread bags for freezing things
Don't use bin bags (or reuse one old bag over and over)
Recycle what I can
Buy f&v from the market if I'm able to.
Charity shop everything that I can pass on.
Fruit and veg punnets, yogurt pots and plastic meat trays need to be culled here the most. They do go on recycling... but there are so many I'd rather stop bringing them in the house in the first place.

I noticed that Morrison’s now use paper bags for loose fruit and veg, and you czn bring your own Tupperware box for the fish and meat counters.

That's good about Morrisons , I'll do that with the fish and meat counters next.time I'm in there. Does anyone know if any other supermarkets do that at their counters?

Morrisons also do a wonky veg box for £3 and it's available online too, it does come with a plastic sheet on the top but still less plastic than buying it all seperate and it's seasonal veg and stuff that usually doesn't sell (it really isn't wonky at all tbh!)

@GunpowderGelatine what waste digester have you got? Sounds great and I'm interested getting one!

Morrisons definitely best at this so far out of the supermarkets. Take your own wax cloth in for cheese etc

I had heard of wormories but not food digesters. My council recently stopped collecting food waste so I have just emailed them asking if they can start a digester scheme even if people have to pay for it.

I have reusable water bottles and coffee cup.

I buy second hand clothes from ebay - 'mother of the bride; has some fantastic bargains.

I use pyrex dishes with lids to put things in the fridge rather than cling film on a mixing bowl. If possible I then use the pyrex to cook the food eg baked beans, take the pyrex ou of the fridge and microwave - to save on washing up.

I use my local butcher and green grocer and then have other food delivered from the supermarket - a van delivering to 20 people must use less fuel than 20 individuals driving to the supermarket.

I've been buying fruit and veg without bags since the late 1980s (with the exception of grapes and cherry tomatoes).

I drive a hybrid car which makes me feel slightly better about driving to the recycle point for tassimo disks.

I've just invested in Beeswax wraps to reduce my clingfilm use. If they work well, I'll buy a few more and combine using those with Tupperware containers, which I already have. Once the clingfilm is gone I also won't buy any more.

I've also just bought various sized organic cotton mesh and non mesh bags for putting fruit, veg and bakery stuff into when out shopping (instead of using their plastic bags).

I'm looking into the best eco toilet paper to buy (whilst still being affordable).

I've stopped buying bottled water. Tbh, I never used to but got lazy over the last year. Have gone back to using reusable water bottles. Trying to convince my husband to go for a soda stream for his fizzy water, but he's worried it won't taste as nice/the same.

I only do 2 loads of washing a week, and my old intelligent washing machine taught me you need nowhere near the amount of washing powder it states on the boxes to get your clothes clean. Eg, usually get 100 washes from a 45 washes box.
Same goes for fabric conditioner.

Would love to try the washer/ dryer balls but not convinced they'd do a good job and don't want to waste money buying something that doesn't get used.

There's more, but can't think straight today. Enjoying reading this though, and getting lots of ideas to try out.

The Ecoballs are good. We did try an eco egg ages ago and decided it wasn't as good, neither are soap nuts.

Organic cotton sheets.

Growing cotton has an enormous environmental impact.

John Lewis sells them at a reasonable price.

@OliviaBenson my food waste digester is this one https://www.greatgreensystems.com/shop/green-johanna-330-litre-hot-composter that's the RRP, I got mine through a council scheme a few years ago for buttons as many heavily subsidise these kids of digesters, it worth ringing yours up to see if they do similar and if not I've seen these go cheaper elsewhere. I love my Johanna

Growing cotton has an enormous environmental impact.

You're not wrong.

Despite only 2.4% of the world's crop land being planted with cotton, it accounts for 24% of global insecticide and 11% of pesticide sales (WWF). ... This high use of pesticides poisons our air, water and soil, and has a severe impact on ecosystems, causing harm to plants and animals.

These are great BTW so many tips! I'm definitely taking my Tupperware to Morrison's!

Another thing I've been extremely insistent about - my DD is almost and I've said absolutely no tatty blind bags, fashems, egg toys, LOL toys, kids magazines etc. I've explained why, and she seems OK with it. Instead I buy her apple e-vouchers to spend on her iPad games (yes I know screen time is bad for them etc etc but I think it's a good compromise and a good message about having less physical stuff, it's her planet after I'm gone after all)

Oh and I reuse tin foil, I only go through maybe 2 rolls a year! I mean if it has splashes of pasta sauce covered over it I won't but there's no reason not to reuse tin foil that has only wrapped a sandwich

Oh and I haven't had a period in over 5 years (pregnancy and breastfeeding!) but my DS is 2 and still feeding but it's bound to come back soon. I don't do contraceptions, I suffer the side effects severely. Any advice on some good washable sanitary towels for very heavy flows? I don't really like the thought of a moon cup!

I don't do contraceptions, I suffer the side effects severely.

How will you prevent another pregnancy OP?

How will you prevent another pregnancy OP?

Bum sex most likely

Not really. But not sure why my contraception is being challenged on a thread about preventing waste. Are you GP @DontCallMeCharlotte

I take recyclables home with me if there aren't any recycling bins when I'm out and about.

That definitely makes me think twice about buying stuff 'on the go' as my area is very poor at recycling and there are no bins.

I have a mug by the sink for foil. One sheet lines the mug and any little bits of metal, bits from pill packaging, pen nibs and so on go into it.

When it's full a crumple it all into a ball before it goes in the recycling bin.

GunpowderGelatine

Sorry, the question was a bit abrupt (but your first answer made me laugh!). I'm not sure why I asked but then I'm not sure why you mentioned it either

In the context of the thread, I was just thinking if - as it's generally agreed - children are so damaging to the environment and are the (indirect) creators of masses of waste (I don't just mean the contents of their nappies!), would you be looking to not have any more?

Absolutely, it's none of my business though.

really need to step away from MN for a day or two or engage brain before fingers...

@DontCallMeCharlotte it's ok I only mentioned it because I know that it would be environmentally friendly to have no periods at all, therefore no sanpro waste, and get contraception that ensures your periods stop - but that's one area I won't compromise on! And thought I'd mention it before someone advised the injection for example.

But that's a really interesting point about having too many children, and it is one of my reasons for stopping at 2. There's enough people already in the world!im trying to be really socially responsible and having another child we don't need or especially want, in the grand scheme of things, is selfish when that child is likely to have an adverse impact on the environment. And I figure if everyone thought like that, it could make a huge difference

I'm very pro-choice, and I've never "gone there" in any debate about abortions that a good reason to make abortion safe and legal the world over is because otherwise overpopulation could destroy us. However I've never had the balls because effectively saying "no abortions is extremely bad for the planet" sounds maybe a tad sanctimonious? I don't know. But I think I make a good point nonetheless.