Hannah and I, along with some of our educators went along to the Hawkes Bay Environmental Centre to listen to a talk about how to live without a rubbish bin. Lucie and Dylan live in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and were inspired to live without a rubbish bin after they went to a talk about sustainability. Their journey was challenging, and definitely didn’t happen overnight, but in the end proved worth it for the feeling they get that they are caring for the planet and educating others to make simple small steps one at a time. Their dedication to the cause was certainly impressive!
Here are some of the ideas and take away messages from this professional evening:
- Take little steps to start with – aim for something achievable
- Think about all the bins you have at home (office, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen) – do you need all these bins?
- To reduce your waste, shop in bulk or shop loose i.e. vegetable/fruit shops, butchery, local markets. Bring your own reusable bags or containers to carry your food home in.
- Take a reusable coffee cup with you when you travel or visit your local café. Those bio-degradable cups are not what you think they are!
- Shop with your $ and make good choices with your food/product packaging – have you thought about a shampoo bar?
- Try using a vinegar and baking soda mix to replace all your cleaning products.
- Think about this time of year and the amount we consume and buy. Think of ways to reduce your waste by making your own gifts. Homemade gifts are much more meaningful than something store bought anyway! How about the gift of “time”, an experience with your children instead of yet another toy.
If you would like more you can follow Lucie and Dylan on their Facebook page “Plastic free Hawkes Bay”,
Written by Angela from Rockmybaby