Celebrate National Waste Reduction week (October 19 – 25) by sharing your waste reduction stories at ZERO in on WASTE Facebook page. Participants posting photos will be entered in a contest for the chance to WIN a piece of upcycled ski art from Ski Heaven.
7 simple ways to get you started.
In time for National Waste Reduction week (October 19 – 25), we have put together 7 ways to reduce your waste, and we want your help to make these tips as local as possible. Try one each day for the next 7 days and you’ll be transformed… Actually, we all will be. You’ll be on your way to putting your household garbage on a diet, and together we can start to make a dent in decreasing our landfill bloat. This isn’t just for granola-eating hippies and breathy-breatharians. This is for every single person who Loves This Place.
How can you show it? Simple. Reduce your Waste. Take a photo. Post it on Facebook. Help us build this into the ultimate How To Guide with your household hacks, tips and tactics.
1. Don’t trash it, recycle it.
While this may seem obvious, millions of tonnes of paper and other recyclable end up in landfills every year. So before tossing something into a waste bin, recycle it! If it’s an item that can be reused, share it with a friend or donate it. For information on what to recycle where check out www.slrd.bc.ca/lovethisplace, or download the RCBC Recyclopedia app for recycling information at your finger tips.
2. Buy bulk.
Whenever possible, buy bulk. If this is not possible: consider products with the least amount of packaging, packaging that is biodegradable or compostable, or other forms of packaging that can be reused or returned to the manufacturer or supplier. You can even bring your reusable containers to the deli at the grocery store to reduce packaging waste.
3. Shop at your local farmers' market
Often a proportion of produce grown for groceries will get discarded because buyers deem that it doesn’t look right to consumers. How superficial right? Farmers sell produce of all shapes and sizes, just how natured intended. So enjoy the difference of nature’s splendor. Buying direct from farmers significantly reduces food packaging and of course remember to …
4. Use reusable bags! (and coffee cups, water bottles ….)
This one is so easy and yet surprisingly, many people still leave the store with single use bags. Stock your car, backpack, purse, bike basket, whatever works, with bags so they are ready for you when you need them. After you get home and empty your bag, hang them on your door or in a high traffic area to remind yourself to pack them away for next time. This also goes for coffee cups, water bottles, snack bags, diapers, and produce bags….what else can you think of to reuse?
5. Create weekly meal plans.
Planning your meals for the week may take a bit of time initially, but it will save you time, money, and prevent food waste as the week unfolds. For some tasty menu ideas with customizable portion planning check out Metro Vancouver’s Love food Hate food waste campaign.
6. Compost your food scraps
Waste audits have found that organics (food scraps, yard waste, food soiled paper, etc.) account for 40% of garbage sent to landfill. Take some serious weight out of your garbage bag by collecting your food scraps. Either bring them to your local depot or participate in your local food scraps curbside program (where available). Don’t have access to a program – why not try backyard composting? Takes a bit of knowhow and, most importantly, please beware of bears! Don’t have a back yard? Get a worm composter. They can’t handle too much stuff, but every little bit helps. Also kids really enjoy watching the worms turn food into soil.
7. Think before you buy.
Before making a purchase, ask yourself, “Do I really need this product or service?” Consider whether the product is available in an electronic format. Is it being sold as a used good? Is the product the right size for the job? Also, before you buy, think about how you are going to dispose of it when you are done with it (e.g., donation, recycle) and only buy items that won’t end up in the landfill.
How do you reduce waste in your life? We want to know. Share your stories and photos at ZERO in on WASTE SLRD Facebook page, using #lovethisplace of how you minimize garbage at home or at work. Participants posting photos during Waste Reduction Week (October 19th – 25th) will be entered into a contest for the chance to win a piece of upcycled ski art from www.skiheaven.ca.
