Weekly weigh in 40
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I know, I know – I’m late this morning, but you know what? I couldn’t find anything to write about.
Have I got writer’s block, am I bored with my rubbish? No ladies and gentlemen, the reason I have nothing to write about is because there is virtually nothing in our bin.
We have, by some weird circumstance, created just one crisp packet this week; which weighs 1 gm.
How it happened, I have no idea. All I know is that I’ve been very thorough with an ‘eat it up or you’ll find it in your soup’ mentality, I’ve done lots of meal planning around leftovers and I’ve been trying to cut back on my expenditure; which means rooting through the cupboards like a truffling pig for tins of things to mix with other tins of things to add to the veggies I’ve been wading through.
It would seem a side effect of this is less waste – so that’s a win-win for my pocket and the environment. Plus my cupboards are looking a little less cluttered.
How about you? How has your week been?
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1g is about Zero in my book. The truth is that getting low totals becomes the norm as we perfect the whole waste issue. I personally have been keeping low figures for so long that the old habits are forgotten. Will they ever come back? Absolutely no chance. Let’s hope other regulars find the same soon, however food waste can be a sticking point.
Yay Mrs G – that’s fabulous, better than our weekly results, and is worthy of a Zero Waste Week challenge in itself! It’s interesting what John says about old habits being forgotten. I’ve got the anniversary of my Zero Waste Week coming up soon and to celebrate I’m challenging myself to a Maximum Waste Week, to see if I can really go back to my old ways. I’ve got a funny feeling it’s going to be harder than a Zero Waste Week so watch this space for further news. 😀 x
Awesome! I plan on challenging myself to clear out my fridge/freezer in March. Need to clean it out, clear it out, and restock with low waste healthy foods.
Ive been wondering what i throw away each fortnight to half fill a wheelie bin, I am coming to the conclusion the only way I am going to find an answer is to empty it yuk but necessary. I agree it is all about replacing bad habits with good ones and this is how i have reduced our waste down to our current level. Im ashamed to say it was a full bin a fortnight a few years back and sometimes i even piched a bit of space in my neighbours bin.
@John Costigane: why thank you John – a zero waste week it is then! We’re doing an interesting experiment this week with our rubbish and ‘new habits’ – all will be revealed next week. 😉
@Almost Mrs Average: Mrs A – I believe great minds think alike on this; it will be interesting to see if what we are planning next week matches with your idea for your zero waste week anniversary!
@Di Hickman: What a great idea Di – I’m sure you’ll produce less waste and benefit from better finances too.
@Sally: Sally, a bin inventory is an important step. Rather than dig through it all, why not write everything down for the next two weeks – that’s much less hassle and less stinky!
Mrs G & Mrs A,
A Maximum Waste Week would be a break from the usual. Things have changed in the intervening months so a complete return to last year’s waste may be impractical. It will be worth a revue, regardless. I would like to join in but my 5 year binbag is a limiting factor.
Oh congrats and well done. You must all be so proud. Are you giving up rubbish for lent? lol.
We have placed a “recycling bin” in the bathroom in place of a “landfill bin” today.
Oh, wow! What a great job you did!
I love it when I have next to no food waste to write about…it’s a good problem to have. 🙂
Nice job! I’m especially impressed because families with kids often use the children as the excuse to why they produce so much garbage. I’m super impressed and continue to be inspired.
I was talking to a fellow Zero Waster today about a conversation I had with some school mums. They were amazed that I hadn’t put my bin out for 5 weeks and I was amazed that they have a full bin every week. It’s a lot sad and perhaps a little peverse, but I would love the opportunity to root around in their bins to see what it is they are throwing away, as both mums claimed to be recycling everything that they can. Mmmmm….. let me at ’em!!! 😉
@Poppy: Maybe they mean just the recycling they have collected. I know that my cardboard, plastic bottles, foil and things that go into the compost bin would take up a huge chunk of my bin.
My recycling bin is usually just about full each collection.
So I could be saying I put a full bin out each time but when/if talking I always stress that it is the recycling bin then go on to add that the landfill bin is only collected avery 6-8 weeks; and that a carrier bag of rubbish is all that goes in every week.
@MrsJ: Poopy, if you recycle properly the bin waste shrinks. Same goes for food waste rremoval and avoiding plastic packaging waste. All 3 would reduce bin waste to a very small amount.
It would be worthwhile checking your fellow mums efforts. That way you could inform their choices eg container use. This may be one way to expand the trend locally. Best of luck if you decide to go that way. Most importantly, keep us all in the picture.
@John Costigane: Poppy, I apologise for the mis-spelling last post. My enthusiasm ran ahead of the keyboard input. If you like create a “new name” for me, for a laugh!
@John Costigane: LOL John I didn’t notice until you pointed it out either!
I do do that John and said it’s about their shopping habits too.
@MrsJ: Mrs J, We can all do our bit for Zero Waste. New people, and new ideas, bring a fresh perspective.
Last year’s September Zero Waste Week, “National” this year, was a great success. The next one will be an even bigger event. It should be ace.
YAY for 1g of waste!! That is absolutely astonishing!! & absolutely wonderful!!
Mrs A – no, no, no – don’t go back to your old ways!! That is absolutely counter-productive!! People who do, do it anyway…!! (not sure what it would prove? or the guilt essay would be worth it? I sure would have terrible guilt if I started going back to the old ways!!)
YAY for 1g of waste!! That is absolutely astonishing!! & absolutely wonderful!!
Mrs A – no, no, no – don’t go back to your old ways!! That is absolutely counter-productive!! People who do, do it anyway…!! (not sure what it would prove? or the guilt essay would be worth it? I sure would have terrible guilt if I started going back to the old ways!!)
Oh and Poppy, do have a go at their bins!! 🙂 Would love to hear about it!! :))
1g impressive
I’m probably down to 10% (plastics)
I eat everything up so little food waste here; and don’t buy home newspapers now. I read them in the pubs and cafe’s whilst socialising, and read the national and local news online.
Envelopes are a nightmare. One can’t easily recycle them because of the gum and plastic windows. I’ve started composting them after painstakingly taking all the plastic windows out. It takes some time, believe me.
Perhaps we need to feed back to all envelope producers to use rice paper or biodegradable plastics for the envelope windows so the standard treatment for spare envelopes is composting, helping aeration with the odd egg box