Sunday Roundup
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Our weekly roundup of zero waste news
Morning everyone; I hope you’re safe, warm and well in the snow
We’ve had a quieter week, we’re pleased to report, with only a few press enquiries but we’re waiting to see if things gather momentum again mid week when our bin gets collected for the first time in a year
Zero waste resolution
We began the week by sharing our zero waste resolution for 2010. During 2009, we created just one dustbin full of landfill waste. How can we improve on that? Find out by reading the Green’s resolution for this year! What is your green resolution for 2010?
Buy in bulk to reduce waste
Buying in bulk from a food co-op can help minimise the amount of packaging waste you have to dispose of. Not only that, but bulk buying can save you money too! Find out how to set up a food co-op of your own and save 1/3 – 1/4 on shop bought prices. Do you use a food co-op? Any tips for those who want to start their own?
No bag please!
This week Little miss Green stood her ground like a true eco warrior. Despite being pressurised from sales staff to take a disposable plastic carrier bag for her purchases, she refused. Do you find checkout staff try to convince you of the benefits of a carrier bag? Do they believe you when you say you don’t want one or do they support your decision?
Say no to disposable items
Another way to reduce landfill waste is to ditch the disposables. By swapping kitchen towel for washable cloths, biros for fountain pens and using containers in the kitchen instead of clingfilm you can help keep things out of the bin. What disposable items have you switched for reusable ones?
Recycle plastic credit cards
I was so excited to bring you this story. I caught up with Rick, who makes guitar picks from old PVC cards – if you have loyalty, membership, mobile phone top up or any other sort of PVC card you no longer want, find out how you can send them to Rick for recycling.
Zero waste baby
Is it possible to raise a zero waste baby? Despite cultural pressures to buy endless stuff, Becky Graceson walks us through the maze of what is essential baby equipment and what you can do without. How about you – what do you think?
Recycle your coffee grounds
Millions of us start the day with a cup of our favourite coffee. Before you ditch the grounds in the bin, check out CafeDirect’s 11 reuse tips for spent coffee grounds. Add your own ideas to the list too!
Food waste and weigh in
We have a weekly weigh in on a Friday and share any food waste we’ve created. How did we get on this week? Find out with, what could be, our final weigh in …
BBC Midlands today
Finally, we were on Midlands today this week. First on the lunchtime news with a teaser, then again in the evening! I’m afraid the sound quality isn’t very good, but here are 3 clips: the first from lunchtime, the 2nd with Little Miss Green doing a brilliant headline and the 3rd completing the rest of the evening news clip. Sit back, have a mooch around our home and enjoy!
Lunchtime news:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtpR3qhRioQ
Evening headline by Little Miss Green:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE6TWsjVv5I
Rest of the evening news on BBC Midlands today (I can’t tell you how unnerving it is to peel a carrot with a film crew watching you LOL!):
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT4vdA5F2bA
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Thanks for the usual great links! I enjoyed watching the clips, especially Little Miss Green, who was both eloquent and adorable! We also have a recycling center at the back of the house, though it is not nearly as organized. Congratulations on your remarkable achievement and best wishes for your goal of “zero waste” next year!
What brilliant clips Mrs G. It’s so great to see them at last. What I love is how you’ve made it look very straightforward, because that’s what it is…very straightforward and I hope that thousands and thousands of people will now be inspired. Little Miss Green is indeed a superstar. I’m really looking forward to how you get on this year and as Alea says, good luck.
P.S. It’s good to see Nick Owen on the TV again….growing older gracefully. What a blast from the past. eh Shows that even TV presenters can have a longer life in them if they are recycled and reused 🙂
Great to see the TV exposure which can only raise the Zero Waste profile higher than previously. The home recycling setup is an ideal example for other families thinking of reducing waste, covering the whole range of recyclables, Tetra Paks included.
There is value in taking the message to the producers of the inevitable plastic waste end product, who currently do not bear the cost of disposal as householders and councils know only too well. Producer Responsibility would encourage waste reduction at all stages of activity.
wonderful clips, well done little Miss G, how about a job as a news reader ? I do agree that once the system is in place, it is easy to recycle anything. LOL
@Alea: Thanks Alea; it took a few trials and errors to get the organisation to what it is! But it now works for us.
@Almost Mrs Average: Nick Owen is great isn’t he 😀 Thanks for the support of our mission. Not sure if the bin will be picked up tomorrow or not now … We have more snow on the way apparently.
@John Costigane: Thanks John. We’ll see how we get on with talking to manufacturers over the year.
@sandy: THanks Sandy – I’ll pass on your message to LMG – she’s already been comissioned to write an article for a children’s newspaper 😉