How much of our waste is actually recyclable?
So here is the challenge - how low can you go if you put your mind to it?
Our amazing Rubbish Dieters in Shropshire have been slimming their bins over the last few weeks to spectacular effect
here are a few quotes:
"I can't believe what a difference taking all the polythene out of my bin makes! Wouldn't it be great if everyone took their polythene to Sainsburys, Morrisons or the Coop"
"I'm loving my Bokashi bin - no more food waste in my bin - and my bin is so much slimmer"
"Doing the Rubbish Diet with my neighbours has been a great way to meet people who live on Ashley Street"
"I asked the council to take away my big wheelie bin - now I have a tiny one because my rubbish has gone down so much I don't need a big one. The little one is easy to move and doesn't take up much space"
If you would like to know more about the Rubbish Diet - give me a shout on 01743 351014 07972 858313 or follow us on twitter @rdshropshire Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk
Sign up to the Rubbish Diet www.therubbishdiet.org.uk or come to 8 Woodfield Road Monday 17th June at 7.30pm all welcome for cake and a rubbish chat
Monday, 17 June 2013
Friday, 17 May 2013
Do light bulbs go in your bin?
Recycling Light Bulbs
A few people have been asking about what to do with light bulbs - James Thompson from Shropshire Council sent over this advice:
.
Incandescent
Incandescent light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste. They can't be recycled like regular glass as the fine wires are very difficult to separate out in processing.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp
Compact fluorescent lamps are energy saving light bulbs and do not belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal.
This ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, are not lost. The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Halogen
Halogen Light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste. They can't be recycled like regular glass as the fine wires are very difficult to separate out in processing.
Metal Halide
HID lamps are energy saving light bulbs and don't belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
LEDs don't contain harmful substances. They have an extremely long service life and are virtually maintenance free.
You should look for the disposal rules that apply to the equipment in which they're incorporated. Individual LEDs can be disposed of in household waste.
Fluorescent Tube
Fluorescent lamps are energy saving and don't belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Neon
Neon lamps are energy-saving bulbs that don't belong in the rubbish bin. They must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
So I guess the upshot is - you get less waste in landfill if you use low energy bulbs, and use LED and fluorescent when you can as they last and last and last .........
I was in B and Q the other day and found the staff in the lighting department to be really helpful - so if in doubt go and ask them
A few people have been asking about what to do with light bulbs - James Thompson from Shropshire Council sent over this advice:
.
Incandescent
Incandescent light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste. They can't be recycled like regular glass as the fine wires are very difficult to separate out in processing.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp
Compact fluorescent lamps are energy saving light bulbs and do not belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal.
This ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, are not lost. The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Halogen
Halogen Light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste. They can't be recycled like regular glass as the fine wires are very difficult to separate out in processing.
Metal Halide
HID lamps are energy saving light bulbs and don't belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
LEDs don't contain harmful substances. They have an extremely long service life and are virtually maintenance free.
You should look for the disposal rules that apply to the equipment in which they're incorporated. Individual LEDs can be disposed of in household waste.
Fluorescent Tube
Fluorescent lamps are energy saving and don't belong in the rubbish bin. They contain small amounts of mercury. Although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
Neon
Neon lamps are energy-saving bulbs that don't belong in the rubbish bin. They must be collected separately for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren't lost.
The energy saving lamps can be disposed of for free at your local Council or other collection points.
So I guess the upshot is - you get less waste in landfill if you use low energy bulbs, and use LED and fluorescent when you can as they last and last and last .........
I was in B and Q the other day and found the staff in the lighting department to be really helpful - so if in doubt go and ask them
Thursday, 16 May 2013
Trying to avoid packaging in shops
Please tell me why supermarkets are selling stuff in black plastic trays? We cannot recycle them in Shropshire - even the most modern. sophisticated plastics separation facility in the country can't do anything with black trays!! So why is stuff still sold in them?
Are black trays cheaper to produce? Does the food look better on a black tray? Either way, there should be a way to force non-recyclable packaging out of the loop.
Perhaps, there should be a disposal surcharge on products if their packaging is non-recyclable to discourage food companies from using it. Perhaps, supermarkets could start to refuse to sell products which come in non-recyclable packaging.... Another idea would be for supermarkets to provide the facility to take back all their own packaging.... all the bring banks in the car park are a good start - but if supermarkets had to find recycling and disposal routes for all the packaging they sold - they would soon start to only sell things wrapped in stuff that is easy and cheap to handle. Oh for a joined up World...
Apparently you can compost almost anything!!
Did you know.....?
20 surprising items you can compost Taken from the RecycleBank (4 Sep 2012 by Jo Dimbleby)
Many items of household waste can add extra nutrients to your compost heap – not just the obvious, such as vegetable peels and coffee grounds.
1. Stale wine and beer – great for after a party! Wine is actually used by many old school gardeners as an ‘activator’ for compost, kicking off the bacterial processes needed to break down the waste.
2. Hair from your family and your pets
3. Balsa wood boxes – such as the ones commonly sold with Camembert cheeses.
4. Used masking tape
5. Stale fish food
6. Hide or bone based dog chews – just make sure your dog’s finished with it first, otherwise you’ll have an unhappy hound.
7. Old rope – so long as it’s natural and not plastic-based
8. Really worn out leather items – chop these up into small strips with scissors to cut the time it takes them to break down.
9. Condoms – did you know that both latex and sheepskin condoms compost?
10. Wool or cotton clothing – finally a good use for that exhausted old jumper!
Old cotton clothing can be used as dusters and cleaning cloths first; when they get too mangy, wash them through and bung them on the compost.
11. Cotton tampons and cardboard applicators
12. Seaweed – tried and tested ‘activator’. Useful as it gives the decomposition process a boost.
13. Feathers – another brilliant way to get your compost heap working overtime.
14. Vacuum dust – woollen carpets only, not synthetic as these fibres will not compost.
15. Muddy scrapings from your hiking boots
16. Lint from the tumbledryer filter
17. Fingernail and toenail clippings – provided they’re nail varnish free.
18. Ashes from the BBQ – worms go crazy for these. Make sure they’re cool first, unless you want a flaming compost heap!
19. Used tissues – collect them when you have a cold. The screwed up paper helps create space and aerate the heap. Also paper towels make excellent compost.
20. Animal manure from vegetarian pets – best mixed with straw.
Let us know if anyone's got any other compost tips?
20 surprising items you can compost Taken from the RecycleBank (4 Sep 2012 by Jo Dimbleby)
Many items of household waste can add extra nutrients to your compost heap – not just the obvious, such as vegetable peels and coffee grounds.
1. Stale wine and beer – great for after a party! Wine is actually used by many old school gardeners as an ‘activator’ for compost, kicking off the bacterial processes needed to break down the waste.
2. Hair from your family and your pets
3. Balsa wood boxes – such as the ones commonly sold with Camembert cheeses.
4. Used masking tape
5. Stale fish food
6. Hide or bone based dog chews – just make sure your dog’s finished with it first, otherwise you’ll have an unhappy hound.
7. Old rope – so long as it’s natural and not plastic-based
8. Really worn out leather items – chop these up into small strips with scissors to cut the time it takes them to break down.
9. Condoms – did you know that both latex and sheepskin condoms compost?
10. Wool or cotton clothing – finally a good use for that exhausted old jumper!
Old cotton clothing can be used as dusters and cleaning cloths first; when they get too mangy, wash them through and bung them on the compost.
11. Cotton tampons and cardboard applicators
12. Seaweed – tried and tested ‘activator’. Useful as it gives the decomposition process a boost.
13. Feathers – another brilliant way to get your compost heap working overtime.
14. Vacuum dust – woollen carpets only, not synthetic as these fibres will not compost.
15. Muddy scrapings from your hiking boots
16. Lint from the tumbledryer filter
17. Fingernail and toenail clippings – provided they’re nail varnish free.
18. Ashes from the BBQ – worms go crazy for these. Make sure they’re cool first, unless you want a flaming compost heap!
19. Used tissues – collect them when you have a cold. The screwed up paper helps create space and aerate the heap. Also paper towels make excellent compost.
20. Animal manure from vegetarian pets – best mixed with straw.
Let us know if anyone's got any other compost tips?
Thursday, 9 May 2013
How much food goes in your bin?
So here we are in week 3 of the rubbish diet - this week we are looking at food waste and how to avoid it!
No-one deliberately wastes food but it is so easy to do!
Karen Cannard - the creator of the Rubbish Diet sent over this link from love food hate waste campaign.... "Re food, it's also worth remembering that even up to its Use By date, certain food can still be frozen. Here's a great link that you might like to share around your community:" http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/know-your-dates-londons-love-food-hate-waste-campaign
I think I just need a 30 hour day - then I would be really organised! The chickens next door are enjoying my attempts at getting rid of food waste and the dog is getting fat! This has got to stop - no more food waste from now on!
No-one deliberately wastes food but it is so easy to do!
Karen Cannard - the creator of the Rubbish Diet sent over this link from love food hate waste campaign.... "Re food, it's also worth remembering that even up to its Use By date, certain food can still be frozen. Here's a great link that you might like to share around your community:" http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/know-your-dates-londons-love-food-hate-waste-campaign
I think I just need a 30 hour day - then I would be really organised! The chickens next door are enjoying my attempts at getting rid of food waste and the dog is getting fat! This has got to stop - no more food waste from now on!
My biggest and best discovery is the bokashi bin - a little caddy into which you put all your food waste even bones. You add some bokashi bran and in 2 weeks the fermented contents are safe to put in your compost bin or dig straight into your garden.
Here at the Rubbish diet we have some bokashi bins to give away to rubbish dieters to help you keep your bin weight down. If you would like a set to have a go - just drop me a line at Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk
Just seen this from love food hate waste for things to do with soft tomatoes: http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/search/apachesolr_search/tomatoes?filters=tid:78%20type:recipe
Here at the Rubbish diet we have some bokashi bins to give away to rubbish dieters to help you keep your bin weight down. If you would like a set to have a go - just drop me a line at Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk
Just seen this from love food hate waste for things to do with soft tomatoes: http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/search/apachesolr_search/tomatoes?filters=tid:78%20type:recipe
Friday, 3 May 2013
Bin research
Hello
I was passing Morrisons in Shrewsbury the other day so I hung a left and swung by the recycling banks - great to find a cardboard bank there as well as paper and glass - you can also recycle small electrical items, books, dvds and clothes at the banks - but non-wearable textiles should be taken to a charity shop to be sold as rags or put in the Oxfam clothes banks where all textiles are recycled.
On the way into the shop is my favourite recycling bin - the stretchy plastic bin - it says recycle your plastic bags here and it refers to way more than just your regular carrier bags - you can put all your wrap from toilet rolls, cereal packets, fruit packaging in there.
I was passing Morrisons in Shrewsbury the other day so I hung a left and swung by the recycling banks - great to find a cardboard bank there as well as paper and glass - you can also recycle small electrical items, books, dvds and clothes at the banks - but non-wearable textiles should be taken to a charity shop to be sold as rags or put in the Oxfam clothes banks where all textiles are recycled.
On the way into the shop is my favourite recycling bin - the stretchy plastic bin - it says recycle your plastic bags here and it refers to way more than just your regular carrier bags - you can put all your wrap from toilet rolls, cereal packets, fruit packaging in there.
Cat Litter - is litter in more ways than one!
In my day job I often find myself faced with a pile of somebody else's rubbish to sort into categories - it's called residual waste research.
Now, we start the day in good spirits with lots of banter to keep the mood light and the work swift. However as the day wears on my mood generally dips a little and I have been known to rant a little!!
About what you ask - what could possibly make you cross when you are sorting through rubbish!! Well, in my case, the thing that tends to set me off is the endless bags of heavy, inert and totally non-biodegradable cat litter that we find in the rubbish.
Most people are extremely considerate and wrap up the used litter in a plastic bag so it is not particularly offensive to deal with but boy, is it heavy!! In some waste sorts that we do, cat litter makes up 30% of the weight of rubbish. So 30% of the cost of landfill is because of cat litter!!
Now cat litter is a double edged sword - people who use cat litter can be seen as responsible cat owners who don't let their cat poo all over someone else's garden. But the resultant waste is incredibly heavy and therefore costs a lot of council tax to dispose of it in landfill.
So is there a solution? How can cat owners continue to be responsible pet owners but at the same time not produce incredibly heavy bins? I asked a few questions on twitter and this is what came back....
There are a number of cat litter products on the market that are biodegradable and compostable
Fed & Watered @FedAndWatered reckon that Cats' Best is the best product - flushable, compostable and economical
Our Altrincham @OurAltrincham agree "Better still is Cats' Best degradable cat litter which is so readily degradable it can be flushed down the loo or composted."
Now, we start the day in good spirits with lots of banter to keep the mood light and the work swift. However as the day wears on my mood generally dips a little and I have been known to rant a little!!
About what you ask - what could possibly make you cross when you are sorting through rubbish!! Well, in my case, the thing that tends to set me off is the endless bags of heavy, inert and totally non-biodegradable cat litter that we find in the rubbish.
Most people are extremely considerate and wrap up the used litter in a plastic bag so it is not particularly offensive to deal with but boy, is it heavy!! In some waste sorts that we do, cat litter makes up 30% of the weight of rubbish. So 30% of the cost of landfill is because of cat litter!!
Now cat litter is a double edged sword - people who use cat litter can be seen as responsible cat owners who don't let their cat poo all over someone else's garden. But the resultant waste is incredibly heavy and therefore costs a lot of council tax to dispose of it in landfill.
So is there a solution? How can cat owners continue to be responsible pet owners but at the same time not produce incredibly heavy bins? I asked a few questions on twitter and this is what came back....
There are a number of cat litter products on the market that are biodegradable and compostable
Fed & Watered
Our Altrincham Things that make bin slimming difficult!
As I go through the rubbish diet I am attempting to make a list of things that I need to try and avoid buying because of their packaging.
Black plastic !
Please tell me why supermarkets are selling stuff in black plastic trays? We cannot recycle them in Shropshire - even the most modern. sophisticated plastics separation facility can't do anything with black trays!! So why is stuff still sold in them? Are the black trays cheaper to produce? Does the food look better on a black tray?
No more Tresemme
The biggest shame is that I can't buy my favourite Tresemme shampoo any more even though it comes in a good quality plastic bottle - because it is black it is ending up in landfill.
Tresemme please could you use purple bottles instead?
Polystyrene Pizzas
My kids are often going off to play something involving a ball and a stick in the evenings and by the time I get home from work sometimes the only answer to avoid mass starvation is a quick pizza. So I whip a couple out of the freezer ready to whack them in the oven - only to find a devious layer of polystyrene inside the innocuous cardboard box...... Does anyone know where I can buy ready made pizzas that don't have hidden polystyrene?
Crisps and chocolate foil lined packaging
This is the toughest one to avoid in my house - with a barrage of teenage boys who despite my best efforts would still live on junk food if they could. We do buy basic tortilla chips because these come in clear plastic that I take back to Sainsburys.
The fact that Terracycle are collecting biscuit wrappers is making a difference to my list of stuff to avoid - but I really do need to tackle my chocolate habit!
Wouldn't it be great if we could find a way that forces non-recyclable packaging out of the loop?
Perhaps, there should be a disposal surcharge on products if their packaging is non-recyclable to discourage food companies from using it.
Perhaps, supermarkets could start to refuse to sell products which come in non-recyclable packaging....
Another idea would be for supermarkets to provide the facility to take back all their own packaging.... all the bring banks in the car park are a good start - but if supermarkets had to find recycling and disposal routes for all the packaging they sold - they would soon start to only sell things wrapped in stuff that is easy and cheap to handle. Oh for a joined up World...
Would love to hear how you manage to avoid difficult materials
Ali
Black plastic !
Please tell me why supermarkets are selling stuff in black plastic trays? We cannot recycle them in Shropshire - even the most modern. sophisticated plastics separation facility can't do anything with black trays!! So why is stuff still sold in them? Are the black trays cheaper to produce? Does the food look better on a black tray?
No more Tresemme
The biggest shame is that I can't buy my favourite Tresemme shampoo any more even though it comes in a good quality plastic bottle - because it is black it is ending up in landfill.
Tresemme please could you use purple bottles instead?
Polystyrene Pizzas
My kids are often going off to play something involving a ball and a stick in the evenings and by the time I get home from work sometimes the only answer to avoid mass starvation is a quick pizza. So I whip a couple out of the freezer ready to whack them in the oven - only to find a devious layer of polystyrene inside the innocuous cardboard box...... Does anyone know where I can buy ready made pizzas that don't have hidden polystyrene?
Crisps and chocolate foil lined packaging
This is the toughest one to avoid in my house - with a barrage of teenage boys who despite my best efforts would still live on junk food if they could. We do buy basic tortilla chips because these come in clear plastic that I take back to Sainsburys.
The fact that Terracycle are collecting biscuit wrappers is making a difference to my list of stuff to avoid - but I really do need to tackle my chocolate habit!
Wouldn't it be great if we could find a way that forces non-recyclable packaging out of the loop?
Perhaps, there should be a disposal surcharge on products if their packaging is non-recyclable to discourage food companies from using it.
Perhaps, supermarkets could start to refuse to sell products which come in non-recyclable packaging....
Another idea would be for supermarkets to provide the facility to take back all their own packaging.... all the bring banks in the car park are a good start - but if supermarkets had to find recycling and disposal routes for all the packaging they sold - they would soon start to only sell things wrapped in stuff that is easy and cheap to handle. Oh for a joined up World...
Would love to hear how you manage to avoid difficult materials
Ali
Monday, 22 April 2013
Where to recycle what?
It’s amazing what you find out once you get going…..
This week on the rubbish diet we are looking at all the stuff
we can recycle in Shropshire so your local Bin Doctor has been out and about:
All your plastic pots:
As you know Shropshire Council are now collecting all your
plastic pots such as margarine tubs, yoghurt pots from kerbside which is fab as
this plastic makes up so much of our rubbish. Self Help Africa, above Paulo’s Osteria in Shrewsbury are
collecting Plastic milk bottle tops - so if you are passing drop them off.
Stretchy plastic wrap:
But what about all that plastic wrap? What can we do with it?
You may have noticed bins outside the Coop, Tescos and Sainsburys which say “Recycle
your plastic bags here” – well the good
news is that it isn’t just carrier bags – you can put in wrap from toilet
rolls, fruit bags, bread bags in there as well – in fact any plastic that feels
a bit stretchy.
Biscuit wrappers:
As for biscuit wrappers – from your custard creams,
digestives or any other biscuit can be recycled at the Shrewsbury United Reform
Church – just pop them in a bag and drop them off at the church office or at 30
Ashley Street. They will be sent back to Terracycle where they will be made
into new products.
Pen recycling:
Meole Brace School are collecting all your old pens, markers
and highlighters – if you are anything like me you may well have a drawer full
of old pens – have a sort out and drop them off in reception at Meole Brace
school – they will be sent off to Terracycle to make watering cans.
Electrical goods:
There are banks for small electrical items all over
Shropshire – check out the Shropshire Waste website www.shropshire.gov.uk/waste.nsf
For details of where you can recycle what.
If you know of a local group collecting particular materials
– please let me know so that we can get the word out.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Woodfield Road, the latest street to take up the Rubbish Diet Challenge!!
Never ceases to amaze me!!
Over the Easter break I got my kids to post a little leaflet about the Rubbish diet challenge through my neighbours doors. I offered cake and a chat about rubbish! Low and behold 5 people turned up last night - all live on my street, but do you know what - I hadn't even seen them never mind talked to them. So even before we get into the benefits of taking the rubbish diet together - I already know 5 more of my neighbours!
I decided to ask people on my street to do the Rubbish diet with me having seen the great things that have happened in Ashley St - where 22 households are slimming their bins together and sharing journeys to the Household Recycling centre for cardboard, tetrapak and electrical items.
It's bin day today so the bin slimmers of Woodfield Road have thrown themselves straight into the challenge -aiming to reduce the amount of stuff that ends up in their blue bin by recycling more, composting for England, trying to avoid non-recyclable packaging etc.
We have decided to share cardboard recycling as well - so I will put out a sack for cardboard on Sunday and people can wander down the road with their cardboard instead of driving it to a bring bank.
I love getting to know my neighbours so I am really looking forward to slimming bins with the folk of Woodfield road over the next 8 weeks.
If you think your street would like to meet up and eat cake and talk rubbish - let me know and I will happily come and have a chat and help you set it up. It really works and it's good fun.
Have a look at our lovely new website and sign up for the Rubbish Diet: www.therubbishdiet.org.uk
Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk or give me a ring on 07972 858313
Over the Easter break I got my kids to post a little leaflet about the Rubbish diet challenge through my neighbours doors. I offered cake and a chat about rubbish! Low and behold 5 people turned up last night - all live on my street, but do you know what - I hadn't even seen them never mind talked to them. So even before we get into the benefits of taking the rubbish diet together - I already know 5 more of my neighbours!
I decided to ask people on my street to do the Rubbish diet with me having seen the great things that have happened in Ashley St - where 22 households are slimming their bins together and sharing journeys to the Household Recycling centre for cardboard, tetrapak and electrical items.
It's bin day today so the bin slimmers of Woodfield Road have thrown themselves straight into the challenge -aiming to reduce the amount of stuff that ends up in their blue bin by recycling more, composting for England, trying to avoid non-recyclable packaging etc.
We have decided to share cardboard recycling as well - so I will put out a sack for cardboard on Sunday and people can wander down the road with their cardboard instead of driving it to a bring bank.
I love getting to know my neighbours so I am really looking forward to slimming bins with the folk of Woodfield road over the next 8 weeks.
If you think your street would like to meet up and eat cake and talk rubbish - let me know and I will happily come and have a chat and help you set it up. It really works and it's good fun.
Have a look at our lovely new website and sign up for the Rubbish Diet: www.therubbishdiet.org.uk
Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk or give me a ring on 07972 858313
Friday, 12 April 2013
The Rubbish Diet Website goes live!!!
Hello
Well after a lot of writing, rewriting, testing and talking - we are proud to announce that the Rubbish diet website is up and running ready for our launch of the Rubbish Diet challenge in Suffolk, Shropshire and Powys next week.
Which county will lose the most? - which county has the most to lose? We will find out over the next 3 months as we attempt to persuade over 200 households to take the rubbish diet challenge.
Whether it's a space thing and you can't get everything in your bin, your bin smells because of rotting food or you just can't stand our throw away lifestyle - the rubbish diet will help to solve your waste problems.
It is a really straight forward process - all you need to do is sign up on the website www.therubbishdiet.org.uk and you will receive an introduction to the rubbish diet with step by step instructions of how to slim your bin.
Ali Thomas is your local Bin Doctor - and is really happy to come and have a rubbish chat - drop her a line on Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk or ring 07972 858313 if you and your neighbours want to take the Rubbish Diet together or if you think your school, guide group, church or toddler group might be interested in slimming their bins and saving money at the same time.
Here's to slim bins in Shropshire this Spring!
Well after a lot of writing, rewriting, testing and talking - we are proud to announce that the Rubbish diet website is up and running ready for our launch of the Rubbish Diet challenge in Suffolk, Shropshire and Powys next week.
Which county will lose the most? - which county has the most to lose? We will find out over the next 3 months as we attempt to persuade over 200 households to take the rubbish diet challenge.
Whether it's a space thing and you can't get everything in your bin, your bin smells because of rotting food or you just can't stand our throw away lifestyle - the rubbish diet will help to solve your waste problems.
It is a really straight forward process - all you need to do is sign up on the website www.therubbishdiet.org.uk and you will receive an introduction to the rubbish diet with step by step instructions of how to slim your bin.
Ali Thomas is your local Bin Doctor - and is really happy to come and have a rubbish chat - drop her a line on Alison@therubbishdiet.org.uk or ring 07972 858313 if you and your neighbours want to take the Rubbish Diet together or if you think your school, guide group, church or toddler group might be interested in slimming their bins and saving money at the same time.
Here's to slim bins in Shropshire this Spring!
Monday, 25 March 2013
What to do with all those padded envelopes
The other day I met some ladies who are interested in joining the Rubbish Diet Challenge - and as usual it wasn't long before conversation turns to "What can you do about.....? type questions.
As people do more and more shopping on line so they begin to accumulate more and more padded envelopes. James Thompson, pointed me to this great Friends of the Earth guidance by Melanie Kramers:
Melanie's guide to recycling padded envelopes:
Melanie Kramers, Communications & Media team If anyone has any other uses for them or indeed has any questions about different materials - give us a shout thanks Ali ________________________________________
 |
| padded envelopes |
- Reuse It's obvious, but saving envelopes and reusing them when you have to send a package can save a packet. You may never need to buy them again. Friends of the Earth envelope reuse labels are a great way to clearly write the new address.
- Sell or give away Bundled together by the dozen, used padded envelopes are a popular bulk buy on Ebay. Offer them on your local Freecycle site, where they'll be snapped up fast, or give to family and friends who do lots of eBay selling.
- Storage Make the most of that protective bubble wrap and use them to store fragile items such as Christmas tree decorations.
- Insulation My colleague Rachel recommends cutting open envelopes and taping them round outdoor water pipes as cosy insulation to stop them freezing in winter. You can stick a whole one over the outdoor tap.
- Knee pads Try wrapping a few envelopes in fabric or cardboard to make a comfortable cushion for your knees when gardening.
- Homemade pots Cut down to size and filled with compost, Jiffy bags make a handy pot for growing seedlings before transplanting.
- Kids' crafts Save them for any kids you know to use as an unusual spongy art canvas.
- Drawer dividers Old envelopes make useful pockets for keeping things tidy within a drawer, from loose screws to buttons and elastic bands.
- Cat cushions Apparently, some cats love snoozing on soft padded envelopes that don't tear when kneaded with sharp claws. My cat seems to prefer the ironing pile for naps, but see what your pet makes of it.
- Packaging Even when really used and battered, there's still life in your old padded envelopes. Use them as protection for whatever you want to send, then pop the whole thing inside a normal envelope.
Melanie Kramers, Communications & Media team If anyone has any other uses for them or indeed has any questions about different materials - give us a shout thanks Ali ________________________________________
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Terracycle tackling hard to recycle materials
This week I have come across Terracycle.com - they run recycling Brigades for hard to recycle materials. For example, biscuit wrappers, pens, coffee packaging and Johnson's baby wipe packaging. A school, an organisation or an individual signs up to become a recycling location for a particular material and starts collecting.
Terracycle then sends out a Freepost label for the collector to send the materials to them. The materials are then upcycled or recycled into new and useful things!
AND Terracycle send the collector redeemable points. Brilliant isn't it?
I have come across 3 schemes this week: the United Reform Church in Abbey foregate are collecting biscuit wrappers - any non savoury biscuit wrapper - for example, digestive packet, penguins, gold bars, rocky bars etc - all this packaging can go to the URC and will be sent off for recycling.
The other schemes I have heard about collect pens that have run out. If you know of any other Brigades in Shropshire or Telford and Wrekin - please let me know. Thanks.
I have just heard that my application to set up a collection point in Meole Brace school has been confirmed so we will start after Easter - 1200 students and staff are bound to throw away a few pens I guess. So This Easter - how about going through those drawers and collecting all those broken pens, dried up felt pens, highlighters and markers - and bring them down to Meole Brace.
I would love to know about any other collection schemes going on in your area so that I can tell all the rubbish dieters - we are always looking for solutions to problem wastes. Bye for now ali 07972 858313
Terracycle then sends out a Freepost label for the collector to send the materials to them. The materials are then upcycled or recycled into new and useful things!
AND Terracycle send the collector redeemable points. Brilliant isn't it?
I have come across 3 schemes this week: the United Reform Church in Abbey foregate are collecting biscuit wrappers - any non savoury biscuit wrapper - for example, digestive packet, penguins, gold bars, rocky bars etc - all this packaging can go to the URC and will be sent off for recycling.
The other schemes I have heard about collect pens that have run out. If you know of any other Brigades in Shropshire or Telford and Wrekin - please let me know. Thanks.
I have just heard that my application to set up a collection point in Meole Brace school has been confirmed so we will start after Easter - 1200 students and staff are bound to throw away a few pens I guess. So This Easter - how about going through those drawers and collecting all those broken pens, dried up felt pens, highlighters and markers - and bring them down to Meole Brace.
I would love to know about any other collection schemes going on in your area so that I can tell all the rubbish dieters - we are always looking for solutions to problem wastes. Bye for now ali 07972 858313
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Ashley St Rubbish Dieters off to a flying start
15 Households on Ashley Street are slimming their bins together!
The Rubbish diet challenge, Spring 2013 has got off to a flying start with 15 households on Ashley St, Cherry Orchard, working together to slim their bins. Jackie Jones and Naomi Hutchings began the bin slimming process before Christmas and were so surprised at how effective it was, that they decided to get ask their neighbours to join them. Jackie Jones said “We can’t believe how many of our neighbours have joined in – we thought it might just be a couple of other houses. It is proving to be really popular and we take it in turns to host meetings each fortnight to eat cake and exchange weights.”
Naomi added “We have decided to share lifts to the bring banks and the household recycling centre – so each fortnight, one family collects all the cardboard, tetrapaks, electrical items etc from the street and takes them for recycling – so we are saving 14 journeys very 2 weeks as well helping people without a car to recycle more.”
The results after the first 2 weeks were astounding with most families reducing their waste by one third and one family reducing their waste by a massive 20kg!
Whether it’s a space issue and you can’t get everything in your bin, your wheelie bin smells because of rotting food or you just can’t stand our throw away lifestyle – the rubbish diet challenge will solve all your waste problems. It’s very simple to do: you start by weighing your rubbish the day before bin day – so that you have a starting point and then you weigh it for the next 4 bin days. Each slimmer is given a starter pack with a step by step guide to how to slim your bin. This is full of top tips for reducing your waste and avoiding difficult materials.
The great thing about doing the Rubbish Diet Challenge is - it really works! The results are dramatic and the support you get from other local dieters is great.
To find out more about the Rubbish Diet please email Alison Thomas on alison.thomas08@gmail.com or call 07972 858313. Alison said “I would love to hear from you if you fancy taking the Rubbish Diet challenge to see how much waste you can lose, we are hoping individuals, streets, schools, clubs or businesses will take up the Rubbish Diet challenge this Spring. The Rubbish Diet is a finalist in the NESTA Waste Reduction competition and we are looking for 100 households to take part in a trial with us in April. I will come and talk you through the process and connect you to other people in your area and support you through the 8 week process.”
Friday, 8 February 2013
The Rubbish Diet is taken up by a street in Shrewsbury
The Rubbish diet has been taken to a new level this week with a street deciding to take on the rubbish diet challenge. 10 households on Ashley Street in Shrewsbury are planning to slim their bins together. The big weigh-in is next Wednesday the day before bin day. Then they will spend the next 8 weeks trying to produce less and less rubbish by following the Rubbish Diet. This process really works and helps you to get to grips with what you can and can't recycle, it helps you save money because you get really good at not wasting food. On average each household reduces waste by 50%.
Slimming bins together is great fun - it is fascinating to find out how little rubbish we need to produce. The bin doesn't smell anymore because the foodwaste has gone, the wheelie bin is never more than half full so no need to panic when you are lying in bed and hear the bin lorry coming down the street!!
Now the families in Ashley street are not just doing the rubbish diet - they have also set up a rota to share trips to the HRC or bring banks for all the cardboard, tetrapak, batteries and rags which don't get picked up by the council. So under their new regime, each family will only have to make the trip once every 10 weeks now - so they are saving time and money and the planet! by recycling together!
If you think your household, your street or your friends might like to take up the rubbish diet challenge or would just like some bags to collect cardboard and tetrapak please give me a shout on 07972 858313 or alison.thomas08@gmail.com - we have a new diet starting at the beginning of April 2013.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Should food go down the sink?
I have been thinking a lot about food waste this week and which is the best way to treat it.Obviously we all agree that the best thing is not to produce any in the first place! And we re doing pretty well at that since the rubbish diet started here in Shropshire!!!
I am not talking about how to treat the packet of ham that's gone off or the half a loaf of bread that nobody got round to eating or chicken bones.
I am thinking about the plate scraps - such as peas and gravy, the odd bit of meat or dessert the rest of the cereal bowl. What is the best way to deal with these things? Ok - I have learned this week that quite a lot of UK sewers take sewage to anaerobic digestion plants where stuff gets broken down and energy is produced instead of methane being released to the atmosphere. Then I heard about these Food Waste Disposers which are designed to macerate food as it goes down the sink - which is an alternative to collecting food waste from households - as it gets transported to the AD plant via the sewer - neat eh? So I was thinking if your waste water and sewage is going to an AD plant why not just mash up any waste food and wash it down the plug hole? The risk is blocking the pipes but as long as the food is mashed up into really small pieces it seems to me to be a better to wash waste food down the sewer than to put it in your refuse where it will end up making your bin smell, then go to landfill releasing methane to the atmosphere.
So am I right - is it ok to mash up food waste and stick it down the drain? If it is ok - then I can put my dog on a diet too!
Friday, 25 January 2013
So here we are in the New Year - I always start a diet in the New Year - well I try to at least..... but this year, how about a different sort of diet - the Rubbish Diet - slimming your bin is great fun, it saves you money, it makes your council tax go further and of course it means that less stuff goes to landfill,loads more stuff gets recycled - saving space in landfill, saving energy and making much better use of valuable resources. One more great thing is no more panic about missing bin day - cos there's hardly anything in your wheelie!!
The Rubbish diet – Here are the 7 easy steps to slim your bin:
1. Imagine that after your next bin day there will be no more refuse collections – and you will have to deal with all your waste – anything that can’t be recycled you will have to bury in your own garden – your very own landfill right up close!
2. With that picture in your mind you need to baseline your rubbish – so on the night before your grey bin is collected have a look and make a note of how full your wheelie bin is – roughly how many bags. If you are really keen – weigh each bag so you know how much weight you are chucking out. A photo of inside your bin is a quick way of recording your starting point.
3. So the lovely bin men come and empty your bin – now you are ready to start the rubbish diet – the first challenge is get your recycling system sorted out so it doesn’t drive you mad….
We produce a lot of cardboard and paper so I have 2 stacking boxes next to the bin one for card and one for paper – on top I have a tray (one from an old fridge!) – I put all my plastic, cans, foil tetrapaks, batteries etc in here and empty into recycling boxes every couple of days. The other top tip is to have a bag hanging on a door or under your sink for all plastic wrappers, bread bags, toilet roll bags etc.
4. So challenge for the first week is to try and recycle everything you possibly can – check out this website to find out exactly what the council will collect from your kerbside and what can be taken to bring banks at supermarkets and the Household recycling centre: www.shropshirewaste.gov.uk Don’t forget that all that plastic wrap can be put into the plastic bag recycling bins at supermarkets.
5. After one week of taking out all your yoghurt pots, foil, cans, glass, card and paper and plastic wrapping – the next step is to look at what is still in the bin – make a note of the stuff and have a think about whether there is an alternative that doesn’t produce the waste. For example, foil lined crisp packets – everyone loves crisps but can you cope with buying Sainsburys basic tortilla chips in a clear plastic bag that can be put in bag recycling instead? Will your cat eat canned food instead of the food pouches? Can you buy big pots of yoghurt instead of the little individual ones so you only have one lid instead of 6?
6. Give yourself the challenge of not putting any food in the bin for a week. Investing in a compost bin for all your peelings from fruit and veg is a great way to reduce your waste – maybe a neighbour is a keen gardener and would be happy to have your compost. Can you avoid any wasted food? This is the bit that has been brilliant for us – by cooking once and eating twice we have saved money and avoided waste food in the bin. www.lovefoodhatewaste.org.uk is a great website with all sorts of tips to avoid food waste – the portion measure has really helped us.
7. The rubbish diet is about talking to other dieters so that we support each other – maybe someone has a solution to a waste problem – like using the orange plastic nets from oranges as a scourer. Maybe you have found a waste free alternative and can share that with other dieters
So please tell us how you are getting on – follow the Shropshire dieters on Twitter @RDShropshire and check out the blog www.rubbishdietshropshire.blogspot.co.uk and send us your thoughts, questions, complaints and discoveries to Alison.thomas08@gmail.com
Thanks and good luck with slimming your bin!!
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