The Four On Waste
We're told so many things about how we can help do our bit for the environment.
I've simplified it down to four really easy things everyone can do, inspired by Australia's ABC TV launch of the series the War On Waste.
Their documentary series takes us on a disturbing journey from farms to supermarkets, suburban rubbish bins to oceans, showing just how wasteful the Land Down Under has become.
I'm on a mission to change that - and so are plenty of others.
There are initiatives and groups popping up all over the place, from repair centres like The Bower in Sydney, who are fixing goods and teaching people along the way, to Boomerang Bags who bring communities together to make and reuse bags locally.
And of course one of my favourite locals, Reverse Garbage!
The single best place for us consumers to start? You've probably guessed it already, that one word: Reuse.
Here's my Four On Waste - the best ways I've managed to stop kicking waste to the curb.
Reduce
It all starts here.
If you watched the first War On Waste episode you saw the amount of food we're wasting per household in Australia - a staggering 20% of the food we buy, equalling about $3500 each year!
Pumpkins grew from the compost - and took over!
We need to start buying only what we need.
Why not start with food - let's buy what we'll realistically cook, and freeze and preserve what we can't. It's also super easy to grow veggies and herbs at home, even if you live in an apartment! Same goes for composting.
I've reduced what I am buying and consuming through taking a different approach to the products I actually need. I've been keeping a list, 'Things I Don't Buy Anymore' and it's a great feeling to add to it!
Why did I ever buy spray oil in a can when (refillable) oil and a pastry brush work better?!
I stocked up at Biome's Naked Beauty Bar, Balmoral in Brisbane.
I got a bunch of DIY natural beauty products like shea butter, avocado oil and beeswax beads from the Naked Beauty Bar and I’m experimenting by making things myself like deodorant, dry shampoo and room spray (which is also linen spray, perfume, bathroom deodoriser...), and buying naked soap bars which can do it all, from face to hair and body.
Biome 'naked' beauty products.
Reuse
This one has made the most difference for me. Reuse is the name of the game - glass jars (hello Vegemite!) to refill at bulk food stores like The Source, scrap fabric for washable napkins, refillable steel drink bottle, reusable coffee cup - the list goes on.
My lightweight calico bags for all kinds of goodies!
Choose one thing and pledge to reuse it over and over - you'll get hooked! Shopping and produce bags are a great place to start, particularly as #BanTheBag sweeps Australia and the world.
I carry little calico bags with me (some I made and some I received with things) for bakery items and bulk food, and a little tin comes in handy anywhere.
No reusable take-away cup? Dine in!
Before you throw something "away", could it be reused for something else? A candle jar for storage, fabric offcuts into dog toys - be creative, but not a hoarder.
You'll be amazed how much your waste shrinks when you start to cut out plastics and packaging.
Share
An awesome way to reduce our reliance on fast fashion is to tap into the best of others' wardrobes, and also rent out our own. Enter: wardrobe sharing!
Sharing extends far beyond clothing - instead of buying something new, why not see if one of your friends or family already has that something? Think camping gear, sporting stuff and tools.
Repair
You don't need to be a handyman or a seamstress to jump on the repair bandwagon. To me, honestly this one's a no-brainer.
It's almost always cheaper to repair something than it is to buy new. Plus it gives that much-loved something an extended life.
Find someone who has the skills, take a workshop to learn, or just give it a crack yourself with some good old fashioned Googling and YouTube-ing. There's a video for pretty much everything!
And if it just can't be reused, shared or fixed, take to Google again and find out the best way to recycle it. Here are some programs to get you started:
Mobile Muster - mobile phones and accessories, just grab a bag and post them for free!
TerraCycle - free programs for hard-to-recycle things like dental and beauty product packaging, and Australia Post satchels (if you can't turn them inside out and use them again first!).
Aldi's battery recycling scheme - collection bins at the checkouts (if you are not already using rechargable batteries)
National TV and Computer Recycling Scheme - drop off points around Australia
RedCycle - plastic bags and soft packaging (for those items you just can't get in bulk) in major supermarkets
Paintback - Paint tins and stains
'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark' - printer cartridges and toners