It is fifteen years since the start of this annual campaign, but I think I only really picked it up in 2019. Aiming to be 'part of the solution to plastic pollution'
I know that lots of you are already working hard at this - Taking your own containers to the local chinese takeaway, buying loose fruit and veg, having milk delivered in glass bottles, wearing pee-pants instead of plastic-based sanpro, using waxwraps not clingfilm, taking reusable cups to Costa ...
the list of good alternatives is really long - but we still have a long way to go. I hadn't realised the new kitchen would affect my thinking about recycling, but it has.
Under the sink I now have two IKEA 'hallbar' bins alongside my yellow compost bin [i'm still awaiting the Council to sort out a food waste collection] These are labelled general and recycling. I have found myself being much more careful about putting packaging in the correct bin lately.
So well done to the OPRL company [On Pack Recycling Labels] who have been working incredibly hard to make it easier for us, to recognise easily what we can and cannot recycle, with labels like this
This independent company is getting lots of big brands on board
Now my bins are adjacent, it is much easier to put things in the correct one. I am not sure if there are any massive changes I can make this July, I shall just keep plodding away. Recycling, but more mindfully [and hopefully in a better way] Looking out for the informative OPRL swirls, in preference to the old three arrow triangle.
I have to come clean here - the company conducting the Consumer Insights Study for OPRL is a small one in Manchester, called Tangible, and my Steph is now the boss. I am incredibly proud of her, and her company, for this research. These small changes in labelling really are having a big impact on the amount of thoughtful recycling. And that makes for a better world for us to live, and our grandchildren to grow up in.
I don't recycle nearly as much as I'd like. Many things can't be recycled easily here. It means a visit to a nearby supermarket, this would be ok but it means a 2 mile walk carrying the recycling!
ReplyDeleteSome councils make it easier than others
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ReplyDelete♻️thank you Steph ❤️and Tangible🧡 for being part of this 💚
DeleteI find those recycling swirls so helpful. We have one bin for recycling; we can put class, rigid plastic, card, paper, cans, foil and tetrapaks all higgledy piggeldy into it. The bin collectors will also take batteries in a separate plastic bag if you leave them on top of the bin. I think food waste collection is coming soon but we just compost it all in our rat proof garden compost bin.
ReplyDeleteCrinkly plastic defeats us at the moment; the collection bins at the supermarkets are always full.
Our supermarket crates are so HIGH , getting my bags of soft plastic into them is like playing netball
DeleteTesco are high, the Co-op and Aldi waist height!
DeleteJust checked the code on some bedding pkant trays, thanks to this post I've been able to recycle them in my household recycling bin!
DeleteI think you do more in terms of recycling and reducing waste over there than we do over here. I do look for recycling symbols on various items I bring into the house, but, I don't take my own containers when I get take out. I honestly don't know if any of the restaurants here will even let you do that due to liability issues.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the USA is way behind Europe when it comes to recycling ♻️
DeleteLabelling like this is very helpful, much more so than trying to guess if it is recyclable.... Although it does depend on what your local recycling options are e.g. Does your council take it. There are lots of people who still Wishcycle I deal with the staffroom recycling and I'm so tired if having to remove stuff or clean it. I've put signs up showing what is Not allowed but still people ignore it!
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of this, I was really sad in Iceland yesterday as I saw a man with a trolley full of about 50 plastic bottles of water. In one fell swoop, he's used all that single use plastic... Who was it for? Why so many? Why do people think tap water is so dangerous?
Maybe he was a teacher buying water for a school trip
DeleteI don't think he was. But why? Surely pupils should be bringing their own reusable bottle on a trip. I have a large 5 litre bottle that I refill from the tap and take on trips with me any time we have one. It's not a big deal to do.
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DeleteWell done Steph, it’s rewarding when your work makes a difference. Well done with your recycling system too. The supermarkets near us now have collection boxes for outer packaging from food and it’s surprising how quickly it mounts up. Under our sink we now have a bin for general waste, one for compost, one for food and a large bag for food packaging. I use a wicker basket standing in a corner for the recycling, easy to carry outside and doesn’t look too bad. There definitely isn’t room under the sink for anything else!
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DeleteThe one thing that can be recycled but our council doesn’t do it are tetrapacks. Sadly this is the only way Norrie can buy oat milk as he seems to have developed an intolerance to cow’s milk. I tried making oat milk but it wasn’t really to his taste (or mine). Thanks for sharing the newer style labels-I will make sure to look carefully for them. I am catching up on the holiday ironing this morning while Norrie is at the Shed. Catriona
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the ironing (it's too hot for me to iron today)
DeleteSome supermarkets have tetrapak recycling.
ReplyDeleteThey obviously didn't get the recycling memo at Glastonbury. Shocking waste, literally!
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DeleteAlso congrats to your girl. It's a great incentive to keep protecting our planet for our gr
DeleteFor our grandkids and beyond that was meant to say!!!
Delete👍 it's not just for us, it is for the young ones coming after us
DeleteI do my best with recycling, but my downfall is the soft plastics, which to be fair I have very little of. I find the recycling arrows really helpful on the plastic packaging these days, although Alan is bad at spotting them, so when I am popping my recycling in the bins, which are right outside the front door, so no need of separate bins in the kitchen, I find myself re-sorting his and also squashing his milk and pop bottles to give us more space.
ReplyDeleteI get annoyed with mixed stuff. The plastic ♻️ trays with non recyclable film etc
ReplyDeleteWell done Steph and company. Belper is very good at recycling, glass goes in a separate box, then paper, tin, cardboard etc in a large wheelie bin. We don't have food waste containers here yet, but we don't waste much food. It annoys me that I can't recycle Sheva's pet food packs. And the waste at Glastonbury astounds me, although I understand Rotary take the tents that are left. Xx
ReplyDeleteThe waste at large events is horrendous
DeleteWe have plastic/glass/cans in a blue box and paper, cardboard in a yellow box. These go out to the roadside on alternate weeks. Boxboard has to be cut into large squares and tied in bundles. Some things just aren't welcome in the blue box, for example plastic molded packaging. Coloured lids go in the trash, as do coloured mushroom baskets and the heavy plastic ziplock bags that frozen fruits and veggies are sold in. (These are cheaper and fresher to use in winter). I'm still confused about some drink cartons which are supposed to be acceptable but seem to be layered and not likely to be recycled in the end. Well, we can only do our best.
ReplyDeleteAll very complicated, but we must do our best
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