Category: Uncategorized

5 – Recycle

admin /28 July, 2007

I know you do, but does everyone else? A few cynics can undermine office morale and dedication to the whole recycling program. Reactivate them with these statistics.

Your rubbish gets transported out of Sydney and buried in a big hole (near Goulburn for most of us). This uses energy and creates green-house gas and pollutes water as it decomposes.

What to do?

By sorting out the items made from material that can be recycled you can avoid some of this pollution as well as reducing the demand for new resources.

Hidden traps

Recycling still uses energy. It is better to create as little waste as possible, than to recycle. Remember: reduce your consumption, re-use the things you buy, recycle only what you cannot keep using.

Focus on reducing waste, not managing it better.

2 – Shop on foot

admin /28 July, 2007

Driving is literally choking the planet. You may think it’s normal, but fifty years ago, no-one drove to the shops. Today, less 20 per cent of the world’s population do it. It’s not normal, and it’s not sustainable.

What to do? Walk to the shops!

How far do you walk in the shopping mall if you go there? Probably a kilometre or two!

So why on earth when you are parked in the street do you come out of one shop, jump in the car and drive 300 metres up the road looking for another park?

If you live close to your regular shops why do you drive at all?

1 – Reject Plastic Bags

admin /28 July, 2007

In 2004 we threw out 850 million plastic bags. The Say No to Plastic Bags campaign in 2005 reduced that to 510 million. That’s still way too many. Friends, we have to stop!

What to do? Buy a handful of silk bags.

Strong and durable, these singlet bags last for years, replacing thousands of plastic bags in their lifetime. The bags are made from parachute silk, a type of nylon, which to its credit is endlessly recyclable. Ecosilk Bags proprietor, Emily Hays, is looking forward to eventually making the bags from plant-based nylons, a technology that is currently being refined.

Keep one in your glove box, one in your handbag or pocket, one at work and one by your front door.

3 – Avoid packaging

admin /28 July, 2007

Packaging is an enormous imposition on the planet. It consumes irreplaceable fossil fuels to make plastic and trees to make paper. It’s mostly used once and discarded, using more energy. Whatever you buy, minimise the packaging.

What to do?

I buy fresh food, locally made food, or basic ingredients to make my own meals: Four litre cans of oil, 10kg packets of flour and rice. I avoid processed food in general. This reduces packaging and also makes sure I use healthy ingredients and that my kids learn how to cook.

I buy goods in simple packaging, and let the retailer know that I chose particular items because of the packaging.