Date Published 29 August 2023
Every year, millions of people all around the world commit to reducing their landfill waste for a week during the first week September - saving money, preserving resources and having fun in the process. Zero Waste Week was founded by UK bases Rachelle Strauss in 2008. Find out more here: https://www.zerowasteweek.co.uk
Here are just some ways we can all make an effort to reduce our waste, not just for this week but as an ongoing effort to be greener and kinder to our planet.
Disposable Carrier Bags are Not Cool – Use reusable ones, always keep one on you they come clever compact sizes. Lets faze out plastic carrier bags.
Reducing your Paper Footprint – Switch to paperless bills and opt to have e-receipts for your purchases or do you need a receipt most shops will ask before they print one for you. Download tickets to your phone. Think before you print can you save your documents digitally.
The Uprising of Refill Shops – These shops went out of fashion for a long time, but have gradually re-appeared on the high street. This time with shiny decanters which are free from any risk of contamination from licked fingers! There are now hundreds of ‘Zero Waste' refill shops where you can buy pasta, rice, laundry liquid and even cooking oils in your own containers and bottles. With the current cost-of-living crisis under way, it makes sense to only buy what you need. Check out this list of over 100 UK refill shops. https://ecothriftyliving.com/2019/10/over-100-zero-waste-shops-in-the-uk.html
Local Recycling – Use your bins responsibly, not everything can go in your recycling bin so find out where you can drop other items off such as supermarkets & recycling centres.
Bagless Deliveries – Most supermarkets now give you the option to have your groceries delivered loose in crates minus the wasteful plastic bags.
Ditch disposable cups – Carry your own one with you, some coffee shops offer a price reduction when using your own container and take advantage of water fountains to fill up your water bottle.
Best Buy or Eco Buy? Founded in 1957, Which? promotes informed consumer choice in the purchase of goods and services by testing products. Recently they have introduced a new category – Eco Buy. The idea is that they score products on their sustainability credentials, including ease of repair and end of life disposal. As an iconic brand, Which would only be doing this if consumer demand was high for this information.
Renting Clothes and Buying Pre Loved - Charity shops are now places to get a unique item, they're clean and are full of bargain hunters of all descriptions.
Some clothes retailers are changing too. Some stores accept returns of clothes of theirs you no longer wear and resells them as a pre-loved item. You can also hire luxury clothing so you can borrow something fabulous for a special occasion at a fraction of the purchase cost.
Wonky Veg - Whether it was too big, too small, too nobbly or had the wrong angle of bend, the food we have rejected over the years has been phenomenal. Thankfully, campaigns and education has helped us realise that underneath these ‘less than perfect' exteriors, lie perfectly good, edible food. In 2016, ASDA launched their ‘wonky veg' box and other supermarkets have followed suit. Ocado have their ‘less than perfect' range, Lidl have a ‘waste not' range. ‘Ugly' food was once shunned, it's now enjoying a bit of a cult following.
Ink Cartridge Recycling - Recently I bought new cartridges for my printer and was sent a pre-paid envelope with them to send my old ones back where they will be refilled. Offices can receive a large cardboard box as a collection point for cartridges and toners.
Doggy Bags - Once upon a time it was not the done thing to ask for a doggy bag. It was seen as a bit rude, or cheapskate. But why waste food when some portions are so huge? The tide has turned now in the UK with more people asking to take home food they have paid for.
