11 Easy Ways To Reduce Waste in Your Life!
Every year, the average Australian produces over 540kg of household rubbish; collectively contributing to around 67 million tonnes of waste. Yes, 67 MILLION TONNES, less than 40% of which is recycled.
Unfortunately, due to a significant increase in online shopping during coronavirus lockdowns, the amount of household materials going to landfill is on the rise. With some Australian councils reporting an increase of up to 50%, these alarming statistics pose a catastrophic risk to our nation.. and our planet!
Landfills and incinerators emit toxic gases into the environment, destroy wildlife habitats and pose a major threat to health. Disposing of waste is also a huge drain on natural resources like water, energy, labour and money.
Fortunately, we have the power to act! With awareness, planning and creativity there are many easy solutions to reduce household waste.
Here are 9 ways you can significantly reduce your impact on the environment (and your purse) by cutting down on rubbish.
1. Reuse Bags
Use cloth bags at the grocery store instead of plastic bags. Keep some handy in your car so you never have to buy plastic ones or feel guilty about adding to the amount of plastic that is killing our oceans.
2. Get Loose!
Choose fresh fruit and vegetables loose, not packaged in plastic. This often works out cheaper anyway and obviously it's kinder to the environment!
3. Buy Less
Think about what you really need and only buy things you'll actually use. This sounds obvious but if we all put more thought into what we buy each week, there would be way less waste.
4. Choose Sustainable
Use eco-friendly products such as bio degradable bin bags and laundry powder. Always check the labels to make sure you are part of the solution instead of the problem.
5. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!
Glass jars, plastic containers, paper, cardboard...even leftover food! Think about what you could use these items for. Get creative and have fun with it.
6. Go Green
Compost your garden waste to use in the garden. Simple, affordable home composting systems like Bokashi bins can turn your waste into good fertiliser for the garden.
7. Declutter
Donate things you no longer need to charity shops, op shops and furniture stores so they can sell them again instead of throwing them away. You'll also feel much better with less clutter in your home.
8.Choose Wisely
Buy reusable items instead of single-use disposable items like paper plates, plastic cutlery and straws that will end up in landfill. Don't buy items that come in single-use plastics, such as shampoo sachets or toothpaste tubes.
9. Better Bottles
Avoid buying bottled water. A little bit of planning can go a long way! If you know you'll be out for most of the day, take a water bottle with you so you don't have to buy a plastic one.
10. Quality Matters
Buy good quality items that will last longer. Yes, it might be cheaper in the short term but investing in items that will last the distance will ultimately be better for you... and our planet!
11.Bulk Buy!
Buying in bulk will not only save money but you’ll also reduce the amount of times you need to jump in the car and go to the shops. Shopping at farmers markets is a great way to buy in bulk AND support local producers.
So there you go, 11 easy ways you can reduce waste and do your bit to revive our wonderful planet. Don't forget to check out our shop for eco-friendly, Australian made, reusable products.