Reducing waste/recycling

[Itsallaboutmememe]

I try to follow the rules reduce reuse refill repair and then recycle
in that order
Doesn’t always happen but it makes a difference 90% of the time
i try to walk if I can instead of the car
at a push the bus
i buy from charity shops
shampoo bars/soap
turn lights/heating off
energy saving light bulbs
never leave anything on standby
always turn off at plugs
I think ‘will I wear this at least 50 times?’ If not I don’t buy it even from a charity shop
my bloke reuses paper for his shopping lists
i give away thing to friends/charity shops
i use white vinegar as a cleaning product-it smell fades fast
white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda down the loo for limescale
hope this helps a bit

 

[PineappleQueen19]

Great thread. I’ve been making changes slowly over the past few years, keen to do more. So far:

• Use washable oven tray liners, I’ve had mine for years now. No need for single use baking paper/foil
• Get a stack of cleaning cloths to use in the kitchen, ditch the single use paper towel
• Use glass containers for leftovers (I use the ikea ones) - no need for cling film
• Switch from liquid hand soap to bar soap - I like the Waitrose unscented one
• I struggle to use shampoo bars so my compromise currently is buying liquid shampoo in bulk and decant into a smaller pump bottle (I like Faith in Nature)
• Switch to oat milk - ridiculously lower environmental footprint than animal milk
• Switch to eco egg for laundry
• Using up existing beauty/makeup before buying new - the IG account Estee Laundry has a great campaign for this - #shopmystash I think
• Bundle up the thin plastic the council won’t take (eg bread loaf wrappers) - take the bundle to a local supermarket that takes them for specialist recycling
• Buy loose veg at the supermarket - use the thin reusable mesh bags instead. Lidl and Sainsbury’s sell them now, probably others too
• Keep a list of clothing, shoes etc I’ve bought. When I’m tempted to buy something new, look over the list and realise how much I buy

 

[Sio]

I love this thread!

I use reusable nappies and reusable wipes for my little one.
I use a Mooncup for periods.
But loose fruit and veg instead of plastic wrapped.
Try and buy from the reduced section in supermarkets.
Meal plan to reduce food waste.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I am looking forward to the responses.

 

[dot bold dot dot]

I've been on a low / zero waste journey for a few years now and I still have so much I want to change!

• I recycle as much as I can such as paper, cardboard and plastics but my next mission is to try and reduce how much of that I'm even bringing in the home
• I use beeswax wraps instead of cling film
• I have a stash of takeaway boxes that I use for foods that can't be wrapped in the wraps
• I have a kitchen worktop compost holder that has drastically helped with the amount of food waste going in the regular bin (another thing I'm trying to cut down on though is how much food is wasted!)
• I bulk buy cleaning vinegar and that cleans almost everything in the home from Windows to floors to descaling etc - It doesn't leave a smell (initially it does but then it goes!)
• I have compostable sponges to use for any hand washing up
• I use soap nuts to wash our clothing - some people don't get on with them but I've found them to be fab even with stains
• I have bamboo cleaning cloths
• I use reusable kitchen towels
• I reuse hoover bags as long as they are still fit to be used
• my cleaning items such as brushes, mop, window squeedgee are all made mostly of bamboo / wood so can easily be recycled if they decide to not work properly any longer
• I recently (this year) decluttered our home and wardrobe and had a carboot sale / donated and now I have 1 rail of clothes as a capsule wardrobe and I don't buy new clothes. I don't go shopping for clothes.
• I'm working on filling the freezer a little more with food that can easily go off / extra bread etc as I've heard that a fuller freezer means it runs more efficiently
• I turn off all plugs when not in use and especially on items that have a standby mode such as the toaster
• I very rarely have the mains lights on at home and I do light candles occasionally (soy / beeswax) I also have some fairy lights dotted about and use rechargable batteries for these
• we have a smart TV in the kitchen which my partner likes on for home cctv but in the front room we use a laptop to watch any TV as it means it doesn't always need to be plugged in
• I try to charge my laptop and mobile phone at work so as not to use home resources
• I've started using period pants - I've previously used a cup but couldn't get on with it very well after childbirth and I also used to use the reusable inserts from using cloth nappies after my child had stopped using the reusable nappies but I found them to big to be comfy!
• I used to use a shampoo bar but I found it never left my hair very clean so I now use a cleanser / conditioner from tropic (can be recycled) and I only wash my hair approx once every week so it lasts a long time for me
• I no longer blow-dry or straighten my hair so saving money on electric
• I no longer dye my hair so saving money on upkeep
• I don't iron anything unless it really needs it - I cannot remember when I last ironed something!
• I do use a dishwasher but I use the eco setting and I fill it up as much as I possibly can
• we have a log burner so when used I do save the lint from the washing machine to use as firelighters, I also get given cast offs of beeswax wraps which are a great environmental friendly way to light the log burner
• we all have a reusable drinks bottle
• I no longer buy shopping bags as I take my own and I use the mesh veg bags aswell
• I have all the windows open in the day when I'm home to keep the air quality flowing unless there is an unpleasant smell outside or it gets ridiculously cold but I still tend to leave the bathroom and bedroom windows partially open then (not sure how this is relevent but I don't like using chemical air fresheners so I guess fresh air is my zero waste preference!)
• I use a skincare brand where I am able to recycle most of the containers and I tend to bulk buy items to save on multiple shipping through the year
• our toothbrushes are made from bamboo so can easily be recycled
• I prefer to shop in real life to lower my carbon footprint but if I do shop online then I try to ensure I'm ordering a bulk / good amount of times worth to save on multiple shipping throughout the year - so I'll bulk buy 4 x 5 litre cleaning vinegars or 2 x 1kg soap nuts and these will last me a very long time but won't compromise the product at all
• I use hand soap in the kitchen and have a soap saver to stop the soap sludge you can sometimes get
• I do use a soap dispenser in the bathroom as my child finds this easier at the moment but again I bulk buy this to decant
• on the washing up - I also bulk buy eco washing up liquid to decant into a reusable bottle and lasts a very long time due to not much hand washing as I use eco setting on the dishwasher - I may start doing more depending on the energy bills
• I can air dry my clothes on a nice day but they can still feel damp at times so I saw a tip on another thread from @Yel where after a wash, do a quick spin cycle and this takes even more of the moisture away! So great if you want to use a lower tumble dry cycle or to hang out after for faster drying time!
• I have started using handkerchiefs instead of tissue for when I need to blow my nose
• we have a kettle with a measure on the side so we are able to only boil what we need
• I have seen a tip that someone boils a kettles worth and uses what they need then and keeps the rest in a flask to use throughout the day so may start using this method come the colder months when I do enjoy warm drinks
• not for everyone but I've started using reusable toilet cloths - only for numbers 1s. I still use conventional toilet roll for number 2s (I do buy the recycled rolls at the moment)

I'm sure there's more and I do feel that I am not really doing a lot but I have to remind myself that we are all just doing our best and always learning.

I'm looking forward to seeing what others do as it's great to learn new ways / things xx

 

[BlahBlahSheep]

I also forgot to add that I put stuff on freecycle or offer it for free on GB marketplace when I might normally have taken in to the tip before. It’s a bit of faff waiting until someone can come and pick it up but I feel better knowing that someone else is getting some use out of it (or upcycling and selling it!)

 

[BlahBlahSheep]

I use Modibodi period knickers (I never liked tampons so can’t get my head around the thought of sticking a mooncup up my foof!). I’ve not used a sanitary towel in months because of these (they are pricey though - I started with a couple of pairs for overnight and then bought new ones when I could afford it).

I also use wax wraps and stretchy silicone lids to cover things in the fridge and don’t ever use those little plastic bags when I buy fruit and veg.

Meal planning has cut food waste massively. I go through the cupboards and freezer before I do the shop and try to plan meals using what I already have before buying anything new.

I’ve also started buying pouches to refill my cleaning products. I tried Splosh but they didn’t have a multipurpose cleaner (not sure if they do now). The bottles can all be reused though. I also cut up old clothes (t-shirts stained with hair dye etc) to use as cleaning cloths. Old bedding and towels go to the animal shelter for bedding.

 

[bubbletea123]

Love this thread. I love that it's giving tips without being preachy.

 

[CoffeeMamma]

Most places will now refill a water bottle too, I always try and have one in my bag for tap water so I’m not tempted into buying bottles of anything.

Can anyone recommend shampoo & conditioner bars? I’ve tried lush before and didn’t get in with them at all!

The Guardian did a really great article on reusable bars for all budgets, I’ll see if I can find it!

update: it was The Evening Standard!https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....y/hair/best-shampoo-bars-uk-a4052631.html?amp

 

[Ekkwhine]

Thanks everyone some great advice here.
I have a stack of cloths. I only use paper towels for things that I would consider an infection control risk ie: immediately after someone has vomited and the inside of the loo.

I have a 13kg washer that doesn’t use a lot of water compared to other models and I always make sure it’s full. I try and time the cloth wash times with giving the machine a good hot wash with some soda crystals.

I’ll definitely look into the glass containers to save on film. I was also reading about beeswax cloth.

Newspapers and junk mail I’m going to start turning into logs for my parents aga I think.

I’m trying to hang as much laundry as possibly to dry, and just finish off in the dryer. Though when I’m on nights in a block I do end up using the washer and dryer quite a bit. Must buy more uniform when I have the money actually

 

[LunaArthur]

Excellent tips!
- cloth nappies and wipes for my girls.
- cloth sanitary pads
- I’ve switched to bar soap for hand washing
- I use shampoo and conditioner bars - I use the Lush ones and love them. If you try them and don’t like them, they will take them back and help you find one more suitable which is brilliant I think.
- Also use a bar cleanser for my face and bar deodorant, all Lush
- I take a reusable coffee cup out for buying coffees, keeps it so much hotter and most places give you a bit of money off for using your own cup.
- Have just had to replace our washing machine so gone for the EcoEgg which I absolute love.
- use washing powder instead of liquid as it comes in boxes.

i have loads more I want to change, but that’s a bit of what I’ve done so far.

 

[Ekkwhine]

This is one of my goals this year. I do reuse and recycle, but not as much as I could, especially as a family of 5.
Anyone got any tips to help a girl out? I think if I could grab a few hacks and get into a routine we could recycle a lot more than we currently do.

 

[PineappleQueen19]

If your budget can stretch to a dehumidifier, they are great for drying washing in winter. Shut the wet washing in a room with the dehumidifier on and it’s dry in no time. Helps with damp throughout the house as well.

 

[Ekkwhine]

Love this thread. Can anybody recommend organic and eco friendly websites?
I want to try using more organic beauty and hair products. Also looking for reusable cotton or bamboo items like cloths etc.

Would prefer to pay a bit more and support environmentally friendly products and sites

me too. I’ve been looking on amazon at washable bamboo and cotton face pads, but want to buy from a company that works with the environment iywim.
I’m definitely going to look into washable sanpro too if anyone can recommend any? I used reusable nappies and wipes for my kids so to me it’s no different.

Try ocean Saver pods

I’m going to go and check these out now

I used to buy bottled water as I hate tap water but now I've bought a water filter jug so don't have to keep buying bottled water. I also use those mesh bags for my veg when doing a shop.

I literally bought a filter jug off amazon yesterday. Did a taste test and didn’t realise how grim our tap water tastes until i compared it. I’ll buy a reusable water bottle when I come across one and remember to grab it. I’m using a battered Evian bottle from when I bought a bottle of water to take painkillers with Christmas shopping.
I have a bamboo travel mug in the cupboard too. I need to get in the habit of taking it out with me

 

[coconochanel]

I used to buy bottled water as I hate tap water but now I've bought a water filter jug so don't have to keep buying bottled water. I also use those mesh bags for my veg when doing a shop.

 

[Noname12345]

I’ve also started buying pouches to refill my cleaning products. I tried Splosh but they didn’t have a multipurpose cleaner (not sure if they do now). The bottles can all be reused though. I also cut up old clothes (t-shirts stained with hair dye etc) to use as cleaning cloths. Old bedding and towels go to the animal shelter for bedding.

Try ocean Saver pods

 

[Noname12345]

I use a razer with recyclable blades.
I love ocean Saver pods for cleaning. Ecoegg for laundry.
I agree with turning the lights /heating off.
Meal planning.
You can find refill stations for cleaning and beauty.
I wait before I buy clothes, makeup etc

 

[Itsallaboutmememe]

I use our dryer in winter more than I care to admit
if we leave it hanging around we get damp
first sign of spring I’m out there hanging it out praying we don’t get any April showers
our new washer has a 9kg drum so I do about 3 loads a week now
our old one was more like twice a day
we use an old jam jar for fat that comes off food and once 3/4 full my fella uses a spoon to get it out and into the bin-it’s one job I can’t do-dry fat makes me heave
unless someone’s been sick we wash at 30
if I’m doing a load of towels 2 capfuls of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer brings em up a treat-my lot will only use fluffy towels and that seems to make them extra fluffy even if they are line dried and they seem to last a few years longer
they don’t smell of it either
(just don’t use malt vinegar like my daughter did once-they honked!)

my dad the eco warrior used to ’help‘ with the weekly shop and he’d stand at the check out and rip off and unwanted packaging and hand it back to the checkout girl
that was a hoot when you came to cook it and there wasn’t any information there like how long to cook it for or what It was!
I’m amazed we managed cos we didn’t have google then
my mother made him stop and sent him off to a friends of the earth meeting
hes been a proud active member since

 

[Itsallaboutmememe]

Thanks guys.
@Itsallaboutmememe what shampoo bars do you use and how do you find them? I tried and found it left a waxy film on my hair. I did a final wash first with baby shampoo to remove all old silicones etc and tried rinsing in filtered water, doing an ACV rinse and just about every other tip google threw at me but I just couldn’t get on with them. I’d love to give them another try as shampoo bottles etc make a good portion of our recycling bin.

I do meal plan, dogs and cats get any leftovers that can’t be used. Or the chickens. I compost too.

I got mine online but will have to check the brand when I get home from work
if you add a cupful of white vinegar to your final rinse it should get rid of and film in your hair
i promise you won’t smell like a chippy!it fades as it dries

I’ve just rang home and my bloke says it’s by rush organics
i got the rose bar and I think I was about £7
i didn’t buy a tin as I don’t take it out anywhere
if we go away to my in laws I just use theirs

(I did use a lush one but after about 3 goes my hair started to feel dry and it made my scalp sore-it didn’t lather either)
I don’t know about their soaps as I just bulk buy pears from savers or b&m

hope that helps

 

[coconochanel]

Dunelm sell those wax wraps if anyones interested.

 

[Ekkwhine]

Thanks guys.
@Itsallaboutmememe what shampoo bars do you use and how do you find them? I tried and found it left a waxy film on my hair. I did a final wash first with baby shampoo to remove all old silicones etc and tried rinsing in filtered water, doing an ACV rinse and just about every other tip google threw at me but I just couldn’t get on with them. I’d love to give them another try as shampoo bottles etc make a good portion of our recycling bin.

I do meal plan, dogs and cats get any leftovers that can’t be used. Or the chickens. I compost too.