There is always room for improvement when it comes to taking care of our planet. Below, are seven simple ways to make changes in your day-to-day life to reduce waste in your home – on a small budget.
1. Bring your own bag
The simplest way to start decreasing the amount of waste you produce is to switch from plastic bags to reusable bags while shopping - whether it be while you are at the grocery store or shopping clothes with your friends.
An easy way to remember your bags when you are running errands is to keep a bunch of them in the trunk of your car or right by your door.
2. Travel cutlery
When avoiding single use items, it's important to bring your own! Pick up a handy cutlery set before your travels. Just throw it in your bag when you're heading out so you can avoid plastic spoons and forks.
The same applies for containers. Grab whatever containers you already have at home and take them with you when picking up your takeaway. Letting the restaurant know in advance that you'll bring your own containers, saves you and them a lot of unnecessary waste.
3. Say NO to straws
This is an easy one to forget, but try to say no to straws when ordering your drink or ask for a glass straw/ compostable straw.
The same applies for your takeaway coffee! Simply take your own reusable cup with you and enjoy your favourite Coffee without remorse.
Another great way to reduce waste is to invest in a refillable water bottle. New Zealand tap water is safe to drink, tasty and a great way to stop spending money on single-use plastics.
4. Wrapping your food
Sadly, most foods these days are wrapped in plastic. If you were to look in your bin right now, I'm sure a lot (if not most) of the rubbish, is food packaging.
There are more and more ways to naturally store and preserve your food. Wrap cheese, half a lemon, a crusty loaf of bread, and fruits and vegetables in beeswax wraps. Made with organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin - beeswax wraps are reusable, washable, and compostable - and above all only contain natural materials.
5. Menstrual cup
Menstruating people will use an average of nearly 10,000 tampons during their lifetime. Most people may not think about it but disposable pads and tampons harm the environment, too. Using a menstrual cup is a great sustainable alternative to reduce your waste.
It's easy to use and very eco-friendly. Alternatively look into options, such as period panties, reusable sea sponges or reusable menstrual pads to reduce the huge amount of disposable sanitary products.
6. Use reusable containers
If possible, purchase food supplies like cereals, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. Simply re-use jam jars, peanut butter jars or what ever you have at hand - no need to buy new containers.
Dunedin stores that offer the option to fill your own containers are e.g. Bin Inn or Taste Nature.
7. Selfmade cleaning products
Make your own cleaning products with ingredients that you already have at home. Not only will they be less toxic but they also eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles.
Did you know that white vinegar, water, some lemon rind and rosemary rigs make a natural all-purpose cleaner?
