R n' R

Did you know that 60-70% of our waste could be composted or recycled? As things stand, on average we only recycle or compost around 12%, incinerating the rest or condemning it to landfills.

There are a myriad smarter, savvier and more ecological ways to handle our waste, from reducing accumulation to using it to our benefit. In this case, what benefits us also benefits the planet!

Reduce

Better waste management starts with reduction. The less waste we produce, the less there is to deal with. This can start with simple choices: Don't buy what you don't need, avoid single-use products, and don't buy over-packaged items.

Reuse

Jars, bottles, boxes, and plastic carrier bags can all be reused several times. I use plastic bags as bin liners, jars and bottles as containers when I buy from bulk food stores, and I get creative with boxes, decorating them to function as storage or as gift-packaging. Some products even come in refillable or returnable packages, giving their containers nine lives rather than one.

When it comes to clothing, old clothes make great cloths, sponges and wipes. Zero-wasters sometimes use cloths from discarded garments as toilet paper! It's also so simple to up-cycle clothing, whether you're turning an old T-shirt into a carrier bag, trousers into a skirt or a dress into a shirt!

It doesn't matter if you don't personally reuse your item, as long as someone is given the opportunity to. Taking old clothes, furniture, games, crockery and other household items to refuges, charities, or opp shops ensures that your belongings are given a second lease of life.

Recycle

Once we have reduced where we can and reused what we can, it's essential to know what can be recycled.

Food Waste

Most food waste can be composted, either in your own home or in community composting sites.

Composting converts waste into nutrient-rich soil you can use in your garden or any houseplants you're growing. Side-note: Houseplants are great because they help purify the oxygen in your house!

Bread, eggshells, human and animal hair, old newspapers (wet), tea leaves, tea bags, coffee grounds, vacuum cleaner dust, vegetable and fruit scraps, egg cartons, paper, cardboard, blood, and bone, can all be safely composted. On the other hand, avoid dairy products, diseased plant material, fat, meat scraps, metals, plastic, and glass.

Start your compost somewhere shady and cool, keep it moist, and add to it in layers for best results. When it's dark and crumbly, it's ready to be dug into your soil or spread on top!

Raw or cooked meat and fish is more complicated to recycle, as it shouldn't be composted. The simplest and most delicious option is to avoid food waste altogether by using as much as possible. Here is a handy site with some recipes that specialise in preventing leftovers and food waste: https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/campaigns/love-food-hate-waste/recipes.

Once you have squeezed every inch of usefulness out of your dairy, meat, and fish products (soup a la Leftovers, anyone?) then you can throw what is left in the regular garbage. Just beware of smells and rodents.

Bokashi and worm farms are two alternatives to composting with fewer food restrictions, but more management requirements. If you're interested, have a look at these resources: https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-your-home/Waste-and-recycling/Food-and-garden-waste/Compost

Household Waste

When it comes to household waste, recyclability (Shakespeare made words up too!) depends on factors like economics (there are schemes which exchange cash for aluminum, but not steel, because steel is cheaper to produce), and what a product is made of.

Products which contain a mixture of materials are much more complicated to recycle. If you want to know exactly what can be recycled, where, and how, have a look at this list: https://www.greenchoices.org/green-living/waste-recycling/waste-recycling-product-by-product-guide. Most things like glass, paper, PET plastics can be easily recycled at home or your local dump.

Toxic waste, such as nickel-cadmium batteries, should be sent back to the manufacturer, and some electronic waste can be as well. Apple's Renew programme ensures Mac computers are recycled or reused as much as possible. When disposing of electronics or toxic waste, have a quick look online to find the safest and most environmentally responsible way of throwing it out.

A lot of household waste, such as books, clothes, sports equipment, and accessories can be donated or sold to charities, op shops, or refuges, giving your items a second chance to bring someone joy.

Concluding Thoughts

Efficient household waste management can bring some very tangible rewards to your home economics, as well as instill a sense of responsibility and mindfulness in future generations. No one loses out when we focus on how to use what we have, rather than opting for the convenient option of merely buying more.

In summary, buy less, reuse more, and get creative to make the most out of what you have! Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.