image via whiteafrican
Last week, I mentioned the couple in New Zealand who challenged themselves to generate no more than one bag of trash for an entire year. If you haven’t visited their blog yet, it’s an inspiring read, and I highly recommend it.
After reading their blog and a lot of reflection on my part, I came to a major realization: My trash perspective needed to be turned upside down. Every Tuesday evening we put our trash bin out on the curb for Wednesday morning pick up. In the past, when I’ve looked in the bin and seen that it was only half-full, I saw it as a failure. My mind would instantly think, Where can I get more trash to fill this bin? There must be more somewhere…
Why would I see an almost-empty trash bin as a failure? Why not a success?!
Thanks to Rubbish Free Year, my perspective has totally changed. I’m now more keen on an emptier trash bin than a full one.
The biggest step I have been taking to reduce my trash generation, is to increase the amount of things I recycle. It’s not a nice thing to admit, but sometimes (often) I would let laziness get in the way of recycling. If the trash bin was closer, that where it went. If I wasn’t sure if the item was recyclable or not, I wouldn’t work very hard to find that identifiable triangle telling me it was okay for the green bin. I’m not proud of this — I’m just telling you how it was.
By the way, did you guys know that you can recycle food cans? It’s advised that you should give them a quick rinse to remove food particles, but it’s not even necessary to remove the paper labels. This was news to me, as I’ve always thrown them out.
One thing that has been bothering me is the amount of saran wrap we use. You know how once you become aware of something, you start to notice it everywhere?? Well, that’s how saran wrap has become for me. I’ve been trying to re-use pieces as many times as possible, but still. Avoiding it seems like a better solution, altogether.
How do you store your foods? Do you have any alternatives to saran wrap?
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The obvious thing I can think of is to store your food in “tupperware” type containers- no wrap required!
I use plastic containers rather than sandwich bags. Aluminum foil is a good alternative to saran wrap, it can be recycled.
I try to recycle everything - straws, drinking cups, prescription bottles. But my county doesn’t accept everything unfortunately. They won’t take the clamshell containers that fruit comes in, and it seems that I have a lot of those.
I also just learned that in my county when I recycle paper I don’t have to remove the plastic window in envelopes, and I don’t have to remove any staples. That was good news. It’s good to read your local recycling regulations every once in a while, as they change the rules frequently.
I hardly ever use the stuff and would like to eliminate it’s use all together. We use covered plastic dishes and ceramic containers. Our goal is to use all ceramic, glass and pottery. Slowly getting rid of the plastic in our house (which of course will end up in a landfill - ouch).
I use tupperware-style containers. Apparently the plastic is only bad if heated, so I don’t worry about it too much. In Toronto we have a really great “Green” program too, so I’m lucky on that front. We have city recycling and city compost (the compost takes any and all food bits, organic matter, and even disposable diapers and kitty litter!).
I’ve been a lazy recycler too. I try most of the times, but not always.
I use reusable containers as much as possible. You can wash those instead of throwing away the saran wrap or ziplock bags. Doesn’t work for everything but I am aware of it and try to utilize those little containers as much as possible.
I use glass containers with a lid (from crate & barrel) for food storage - and i have reusable kids lunch boxes/containers so we rarely use ziplock bags, saran wrap, etc. I’m working on using towels instead of paper towels and composting our food scraps for the garden to decrease our trash! J
Hmmm… I typically eat meals that are microwaveable and I don’t have any leftovers…but I AM creating a lot of trash that way so maybe I should re-evaluate what I eat…
i am a new recycler as of about 6-9 months ago and i’m becoming slightly obsessed. i am not ashamed to reach in the garbage and exclaim to the the family, *ummm, we recycle, did you forget?* to the person who threw away an item they should have recycled. every item i walk to the trash i wonder, *can i recycle this?* when i do use the trash, i think, *this will end up in the landfill and be there forever*. i want to have less and less trash at the curb on friday morning. good tip on checking the recycle rules to check on the new rules!
Well, we do try to use tupperware or other reusable things to store foods. Even cleaned out sour cream and big yogurt containers work great (I just use a sharpie to write “not sour cream” on the container!) And lately we stopped buying paper towels, we’re just using the flour sack towels for cleaning and general nose wiping around here. It’s working for us!
@ RML~
Duh! I never really thought of tupperware. I don’t own any, so I would have to get some if I went this route. My routine (good or bad?) has been to put {it} in the appropriately-sized ceramic dish, covered by saran wrap. We have oodles and oodles and oodles of ceramic dishes as my in laws throw pottery.
@ Harriet~
Where do you live? What country? I always thought you were here, in the states! Aluminimum foil is a good idea, and I always try to re-use it several times before recycling it.
@ Renee~
I have to say that I am *suspicious* of plastic, altogether. Maybe it’s a bit extreme, but I’ve always how plastics affect our general health.
@ Beth~
Yeah, we never EVER microwave plastics — it freaks me out. I’m not even ashamed stop the microwave when someone (usually MIL) starts to microwave plastic. I’ll very nicely say, “Um…we don’t put plastic in there…” That’s awesome about your compost program. I can’t believe they take disposable diapers.
@ Elina~
I’m working on my laziness. ; ) Of course, I’m not ready to be as extreme as the NZ couple, but I can make small changes towards progress!
@ Jenny~
We haven’t used the compost bin in a while. It grossed me out….I have to get over this, because that’s a really lame excuse. I like the idea of the glass containers from C&B — I love that they have lids that fit…
@ PP~
Those dishes that the microwaveable meals come in? — I used to save them and use them all the time in my classroom (before kids.) Maybe you could wash them and save them, and donate them to an elementary school? I’m pretty sure the teachers would appreciate them.
@ Jamie~
LOL, you’re braver than me reaching your hand into the trash. I like that you’re getting your whole family involved. My son is really interested {he’s five} and he recently decided that Legos should be made out of recycled materials. We’re going to write a letter to Lego, and see what they think of his idea! ; )
@ Gina~
I save the yogurt containers and such, but they usually become bug houses in the backyard! ; ) I know I should concentrate on my use/over-use of paper towels…Thanks for the reminder.
I use the containers that take away food comes in. I wash em out and use them again and again. Not sure if these would be the same in the states though. GREAT that you are recycling and aiming to reduce your rubbish. I am trying that too. SOme areas I am great at, some I am rubbish at. My main aim is currently PRECYCLING which basicall means not bringing stuff into the house. I am shopping avoiding plastic and packaging. Going to the open market and buying loose veg and fruit.
Yup - I’m a tupperware user too. Also, if I am putting a bowl of leftovers or similar in the fridge I tend to cover it with a small plate instead of saran wrap/cling film. That way you can just wash the plate afterwards which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly too!
@ mo~
I’m not sure we have the same take away containers as you. I definitely agree that PRE-cycling is very important. I must admit that it takes some getting used to because what if my favorite product comes in a non-friendly container?!
@ shoestring~
LOVE it!!! I think you’re onto something here, with the plate-being-the-lid method. Using a plate, also makes things stackable so that there’s more room in the fridge for storage. Thanks!
we are big time recyclers. Our recycle bin is sometimes the one over flowing. I am still using plastic containers for food storage in the fridge. I can’t remember the last time I bought saran wrap. I do my foil though to line my pans.
Yay for you Kirwin! It’s so awesome to see others jump on the “reduce waste” bandwagon. I really think it’s such an important thing to do and we all should take responsibility for it. We’re lucky here in Aus - there’s a lot we can recycle and it’s made easy for us (ie a recycling bin and curbside pick up).
Some great comments too on how to reduce the use of seran wrap. I’ve been thinking about how to do that myself.
Good for you, kirwin, and it’s brave to solicit suggestions, too : ) Like @mo, our priority is *reduce*ing the amount of waste we create. It still takes energy to recycle (and yes, to wash a reusable container, but arguably less). Even so-called “biodegradable” items take hundreds of years to breakdown if sent to the landfill, so *recycle*ing them is great! And I believe wax paper can be recycled. Great suggestions here.
I live in the states! I was writing about my county, maybe you read it as country.
I have glass pyrex bowls that I use for leftovers. They sell reusable plastic lids, sort of like Tupperware for them.
@ Denise~
We have a big costco-sized saran wrap that tends to last forever. Now that I’m trying to avoid it, it really will last me forever!
@ Sami~
I think I’m doing well, and then I realize that I could always do better. I’m so worried about this earth that we’re leaving for our children.
@ Amy~
Good point about the “biodegradable” items. It seems so pointless to throw away perfectly respectable “recyclable” items (says the blogger who sometimes did…) ; )
@ Harriet~
OHHHH! County, not countRy! Yup — I read that wrong.
@ Carrie~
I actually think I have a couple of those. I’m going to hunt around in my drawers.
I have 2 trash cans in my kitchen to keep me from being lazy. One for trash and one for recycles. It makes all the difference in the world to not have to make a special trip out to the trash for recycled stuff. They sit neatly next to each other.
You can also recycle anything that has the little triangle with a number in the middle of it on the bottom - think meat containers, plastic everything practically, some styrofoam things - it’s amazing how much you can recycle once you learn all that can be recycled.
I am trying my hardest (and it’s SUPER hard) to give up ziploc baggies this year. I am using tons of tupperware containers in place of things. I have cute sandwich containers for The Husband and I try to use foil or wax paper instead of saran wrap. I am a work in process but this is one of my goals for 2009.
I’m happy to find out that I’m not the only one who liked a full trash can. You’re right though, time for an adjustment.