There’s been heavy media coverage in recent months on the War on Waste, the amount we’re producing as a country and how we are now going to have to find ways to deal with our own waste instead of shipping it off to other countries.  This development, though causing major issues for our governing bodies, is what has been needed to force the powers that be to finally act and provide innovative, financially viable solutions to managing our waste.  Waste needs to become big business and that will come at a cost to the consumers hip pocket.  That said it would seem that most are ready, understanding that there will be a cost to saving this beautiful plant and all that inhabit it.

Regardless of your stance on climate change, there is no denying that plastics are contributing to growing amounts of landfill, washing up onto our beaches, creating massive islands in our oceans, negatively impacting both fauna & flora & making its way into our food chain. The amount of plastic packaging around our groceries, vegetables, fruits & meat each week is hard to ignore. The major supermarkets are continuing to unnecessarily wrap vegetables and fruit in plastic, resist this easy purchase by taking your own recycled fruit bags or in small quantities, purchase items loosely.

 

How can we make the changes needed to reduce our waste and our impact on the planet?

We could start by simplifying our lives, make conscious choices when buying & where possible make the effort to recycle everything.  Avoid plastic packaging by buying from growers markets or by growing some of your own vegetables at home.  Experiment with saved seeds from your tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum and pumpkin and plant them in your garden, raised garden beds or a large pot.  Plant store bought potatoes, sweet potato, onion, ginger and garlic cloves to produce an abundance of vegetables in return.

Keep your fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds and tea bags out of the garbage by composting them. Don’t throw them away, use the nutrient rich compost you can make to feed the soil around your plants & experience the benefits it will bring to not only increasing the size of your harvest but also the depth of taste to your produce.

What can you do to adjust & reduce your waste?

1. Vote for less plastic wrapping at the supermarket with your buying power by choosing products not wrapped in plastic. This sends a message to the big supermarkets that you are not agreeing to plastic packaging, forcing them to make the instrumental changes we all need to see happen.
2.  Where possible, choose products in recyclable packaging and consider placing non-recyclable waste into your unlined kitchen bin then into your wheelie bin or use biodegradable bags or newspaper in your garbage bins.
3. Remember that big supermarket players offer soft plastic recycling bins just inside the entrance, so collect any clean plastic you can scrunch in your hand and recycle.  This does not include plastic bottles but there are now many recycling stations offering returns for recyclable bottle and glass items. Learn more in the media coverage link at the beginning of this article.

The Ezyplant team has great hope for our planet and for future generations, but we all need to do our bit.  Together we can make the world a better place for our children and their children to come.  Action is what is required.