Today is World Refill Day - to raise awareness of the wisdom of re-using, and the foolishness of using single-use/disposable goods unnecessarily
After the Big Plastic Count last month, I was sent this link to the "Living with Less Plastic Handbook". It is a free downloadable resource full of useful ideas, helpful to those starting out on this journey. I have certainly used my Stojo Mug an awful lot this year, for hot and cold drinks.
The nearby market town of Swaffham has a "Sustainable Swaffham" Campaign, aiming to make our area [Breckland] carbon neutral by 2035. A number of shops offer free refills for water bottles, and there are other eco-initiatives throughout the town.
The nearby market town of Swaffham has a "Sustainable Swaffham" Campaign, aiming to make our area [Breckland] carbon neutral by 2035. A number of shops offer free refills for water bottles, and there are other eco-initiatives throughout the town.
Look for stickers like these in other towns.
And please don't forget that 'refilling' covers many things. Use reusable vegetable bags at the supermarkets rather than taking a plastic bag every time you buy carrots. Buy dry goods in larger quantities in recyclable paper sacks or cartons, to decant into smaller containers when you get home. If you have a weekly date with your local chinese takeaway, ask them to refill your carefully washed plastic containers. Wilko sells grass seed in a box - or you can buy it loose in a paper bag [and it is cheaper too]
We buy our free range eggs from the local farm, and I have been using the same egg box for over 10 years [since the days when we refilled it at the end of our holidays, before returning to Leicestershire]
Do you have a favourite refill product?
Or a good tip to share?
Here are some tips:
ReplyDelete1. Keep a set of cutlery (be it metal, plastic, wood, bamboo) in your handbag/bag or car boot.
2. Have a designated bag of reusable containers in the boot or keep it in a certain place/cupboard im your house so if you use your local Chinese takeaway (like I do), you just grab the bag, ready to go. As soon as they are washed, I put them into the same bag, tie a loose knot and they are always ready.
3. Some supermarket fresh meat and fish and deli counters (Waitrose and Sainsbury's definitely do) will put items into your own tubs. Keep those in your shopping bag.
4. Cereal bags (the ones inside the box) are v useful. Can be used as produce bags, bakery bags and bags to put things you are worried will spill inside. I reuse them all. Same with the plastic bags junk mail comes inside.
5. Take the plastic covers and hangers back to the drycleaner.
6. Save any supermarket hummus tubs (that have a solid lid) to reuse for putting small amounts of something in the freezer. I've used them for putting homemade pesto in, lemon zest for future needs, homegrown raspberries (makes a good portion), for chickpeas that have been cooked en masse and even a small portion of crumble.
And now I must swap trains!
Thanks Kezzie, great suggestions
DeleteWilko also does bird fat balls in cardboard I've seen.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteOur local Spar has recently introduced a section where you can fill containers with staples such as oats, dried fruit and pasta. I have to say that we were doing this ten years ago in our rural part of France!
ReplyDeleteThat's progress
DeleteI remember when plastic garbage bags were introduced and everyone was so happy because it would save so many trees. Then plastic bags replaced paper bags at grocery stores and then at most other stores. People were so proud that we were saving so many trees and stopping that environmental destruction. Now stores here in Canada are going back to paper bags and everyone thinks that is great. Don’t replace plastic with paper - you are just doing a different type of environmental harm. Use cloth bags or other reusable materials not just something that can be reused a few times and then is still trash (even if it IS recyclable). How much of the plastic in the oceans come off the recycling bales taken on container ships taking your recycling to some other country to recycle? That’s why the first of the Rs is REDUCE and the last one is RECYCLE. Unfortunately most people think they are doing a great job just because they recycle, not realizing that a lot of what they put in the recycle bin still ends up in landfill because there are no facilities in their area to process some of those products.
ReplyDeleteGood point - reducing should be our first consideration
DeleteLike Elizabeth, we have a store with more than a hundred bins of food. It's cheaper than packaged goods, and I like that I can buy just a bit of a spice to try out a new recipe. ~ skye
ReplyDeletePS: Did you see the BBC article on the damage done to Marilyn Monroe's dress?
Thanks Skye for the comment. Yes I checked out the reports about the damaged dress. Sad! 😞
DeleteI sometimes buy a sub for us when I am returning late at lunchtime and it is always wrapped in 2 lots of paper and placed in a long plastic bag. The outside paper usually stays clean and goes into the recycling, the bag itself I save for reuse, to the initial surprise of the staff in the takeout. Now they seem to appreciate it each time I fetch it out.
ReplyDeleteExcellent example of recycling
DeleteSince I no longer shop in person, just about everything I buy come prepackaged or in plastic bags. I reuse what I can (glass jars, lidded plastic containers, etc.) and recycle what I can. Even rinsing out the reusable containers uses water which, at this point, is one of the most precious resources we have available. I can reuse some of the rinse water to water the garden, etc., but, not when there is food waste in the water.
ReplyDeleteWe are not always mindful about reusing water. I know it's something you are very aware of, Bless, living in a hotter drier climate than I do
DeleteI keep meaning to go to a shop that dispenses food into whatever container you bring. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee gluten free, and I suffer so much if I have gluten, so it would be for the men folk. Thank you for giving me a nudge.
ReplyDeleteThe allergy/intolerance issue must make refill shops a challenge for some folk
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