If you are thinking this week's blog post is about a new single from Faith No More, you'd be wrong, although this one is worth a listen!
No, this week I want to talk about reducing waste, and the below tips are courtesy of The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, from their latest newsletter.
How much?!
Each Dane throw away approximately 11,4 kg rubbish per week. More than half of that end up in the furnace and go up in smoke, according to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
A better use of the resources is to sort and recycle the waste.
But you can also start beforehand and be mindful of what you buy and how much of it will end as waste in the end.
10 tips for reducing waste in your home
- Buy quality
You might have to pay a bit more, but a quality product lasts longer. Every time something new is produced, it takes water and resources that release CO2. It takes 1400 liters of water to produce a new t-shirt. That's more than 10 filled bathtubs! The CO2 discharge from producing a Danes average use of textiles, is the same as driving 2143 km in a car. So, for every year you use your clothes you save money and reduce CO2. When buying bigger things like furniture or vehicles the savings on the CO2-account is equivalently bigger. - Only buy things you need
Consider your need before you buy. Is it something you need, or something you want? Try to think ahead with your purchases: will you still want the fur lined winter coat next year? Will you get tired of a yellow bag? - Fix things
When you buy quality it is usually cheaper to fix things than to buy new. - Secondhand
Buy secondhand. Search for secondhand stores close to where you live, or shop online. If you have bought something that didn't fit after all, sell it rather than throwing it out. Use a fabric tote for your shopping rather than buying plastic bags. - Borrow or swap
If you only need something for a short period of time it is better to borrow, e.g. if you have children, are throwing a party or traveling. There are plenty of Facebook groups where you can borrow things, or you can borrow from or swap with friends. Rent books, e-books, music and films at the library, or online. - Buy things that don't result in waste
Experiences are good gifts, buy reusable water bottles, bring your own jug when you want a coffee to-go, buy a normal razor rather than the plastic ones. If you have children avoid using throw away cloths and bibs, and rather use cotton versions that can be washed in the machine. Also consider cloth diapers. - Buy products without packaging
Avoid food and other products with unnecessary packaging. Be aware though, that with fruit and vegetables the packaging often has an important function: to keep the food fresh. For instance, a banana stays fresh for 2-4 weeks in a thin plastic bag, compared to a week unwrapped. - Use reusable containers
Pack food in lunchboxes rather than plastic bags. Don't use tinfoil, but sustainable sandwich paper, or reusable boxes. - Avoid wasting food
Make a meal plan for the week and use what you already have as a starting point. Use your leftovers. Don't buy in bulk unless you need to. Keep the food you need to eat first at the front of the fridge. Freeze leftovers for another day. - Opt out of physical products
Say no thanks to printed ads. Use electronic mail for important papers from the bank and government. Read books and papers, as well as buy music and films, digitally.
Do you have any other tips for reducing waste in our everyday lives?