I have decided to join in the eight week rubbish diet. This is organised by Karen Canard at www.therubbishdiet.co.uk. She has created a method for trying to become Zero waste in eight weeks. Pop along to the website to have a read and consider joining in. I'm not sure I will make it to zero waste but would really like to improve my knowledge on waste reduction and to make sure that I reduce my food waste and figure out what can be recycled.
To help reduce the amount of food that I throw away I have set myself the No Waste Food Challenge. Each month I will pick an ingredient commonly wasted in my household. Everyone is welcome to join in and hopefully we can provide some inspiration for using those leftovers.
To help reduce the amount of food that I throw away I have set myself the No Waste Food Challenge. Each month I will pick an ingredient commonly wasted in my household. Everyone is welcome to join in and hopefully we can provide some inspiration for using those leftovers.
Following Karen's guide the first step in week one is to find out what facilities you have for recycling in your borough. I am very lucky living in Woking because we have fantastic recycling facilities. We have a food waste collection bin together with the recycling which we can throw in foil, plastic and cardboard. This year they have also introduced curbside electronic recycling, building on the battery recycling they already offer. Much of the hard work has therefore been done for me.
Recyclable waste that was accidentally being thrown away.
I therefore brushed up on what can be recycled and then set about identifying whether some of our common waste is recyclable. I found out that the shampoo bottle I use is recyclable - this normally goes in the waste bin.
Something I noticed is that by having seperate bins in the lounge and bedroom we are being lazy and mixing our recyclable and non recyclable waste. This has meant that on average we have been throwing a small bins worth or recyclable waste into the non recyclable bin every couple of weeks. I have now taken these bins away so that we are forced to place out rubbish in the right bin in the kitchen.
Something I noticed is that by having seperate bins in the lounge and bedroom we are being lazy and mixing our recyclable and non recyclable waste. This has meant that on average we have been throwing a small bins worth or recyclable waste into the non recyclable bin every couple of weeks. I have now taken these bins away so that we are forced to place out rubbish in the right bin in the kitchen.
One of the strugglers I'm finding is that because I'm on a budget many of the items I buy us which are cheaper, seem to come in nonrecyclable packaging. For example the things I bought from the pound shop or Sainsburys basic chocolate. I need to explore if there are any alternatives to these that don't cost me a huge amount more!
Week 1 weigh up
Half a black bag of non recyclable waste
Full recyclable bin
Full food waste bin
Week 1 weigh up
Half a black bag of non recyclable waste
Full recyclable bin
Full food waste bin
