Because the collapse of the REDcycle program I’ve actually seen a rise within the quantity of garbage I’ve going into landfill. When this system was nonetheless working I had a particular bin for all of my smooth plastic. I’d tote my bag of plastic to the REDcycle bin each time we headed into the closest bigger city. It’s disappointing that there isn’t a extra REDcycle. For these of us making an attempt to divert smooth plastic from landfill, we’ve to ask ‘now what?’.
The phantasm of advantage
The draw back of a program like REDcycle is that I felt fairly virtuous sending my plastics off for recycling. No less than, I believed, my plastic waste isn’t going to finish up in our waterways. However I by no means gave a lot thought to how this plastic was truly being recycled. We now know that there have been failures within the system. A lot of the plastic was not recycled and this led to stockpiling and finally the collapse of the system. Dropping the REDcycle program has made me realise that I merely use an excessive amount of plastic. My garbage bin fills up rather more rapidly, and I’m engaged on methods to minimise my plastic use. Should you would additionally like to cut back your plastic waste, the next methods will assist.
1. Refuse
We’ve heard all of it earlier than haven’t we?! It actually does begin with refusing plastic carry baggage. However I’m amazed at how usually I nonetheless see folks shopping for plastic baggage on the checkout. Cloth and different ‘inexperienced’ baggage made with recycled or salvaged supplies are available in every single place lately at locations like road stalls and markets. Or you possibly can make your own. I’ve a stash within the automotive and a light-weight bag that folds as much as simply slot in a purse. Admittedly we do all should work at remembering to take our baggage into the grocery store with us!
Refuse to purchase fruit and veggies which can be packaged like these pictured under. Significantly, a bunch of bananas in a plastic field, 3 capsicum in a plastic bag, and lemons packed onto a styrofoam tray after which wrapped in plastic? Don’t put a couple of free fruit or veggie gadgets right into a plastic bag. They are going to be simply positive in your carry bag. Or make a few produce bags to take with you if you’re shopping for gadgets like beans or sugar snap peas.
2. Purchase contemporary
As a lot as attainable, purchase contemporary in-season fruit and veggies fairly than frozen packaged ones. Issues like contemporary raspberries are a lot nicer than frozen ones and usually tend to be grown in Australia. I do know it’s laborious to be a purist. For example I recurrently purchase frozen peas. I have to attempt to develop my very own! However we are able to all attempt to be a little bit extra considerate earlier than robotically heading to the freezer for our week’s provide of greens.
3. Purchase from bulk sources utilizing your personal containers
There’s all the time extra we are able to do
Regardless of being a devotee of cloth purchasing baggage, refusing plastic baggage, and shopping for from a bulk supply utilizing my very own containers, I may nonetheless do extra to cut back the quantity of plastic in my bin. Making my very own pasta and crackers would take away a little bit extra plastic from the family. My sister handed on her pasta maker to me just lately and I have to have a go at utilizing it. I’ve made my very own sourdough crackers a couple of instances, with blended success. Finally it’s about making the house a unit of production not a unit of consumption. This takes time, one thing that’s briefly provide in some households. However even small adjustments applied constantly could make a giant distinction.
What small adjustments are you able to decide to that may cut back your smooth plastic waste, even when the REDcycle program does recommence sooner or later?
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