Top tips to reduce your plastic waste

16 August 2019

Are you ready to make #plasticfreejuly become your #plasticfreeeveryday? Or perhaps you’ve been thinking about reducing your plastic waste but you’re not sure where to start?

Here’s how our Plastic Free July Competition winners are reducing plastic waste and inspiring others to do the same.

I have started a recycling program at school where students can put their plastic water bottles from the tuckshop in a designated bin and receive ten cents for each transaction. I have also started a club that meets every Saturday to pick up rubbish on the nearby waterfront.  ͟͟   Maddie

Editor’s comment: Your initiatives and actions to help the environment and its wildlife are so inspiring, Maddie. Congratulations on such great work!

 

I no longer buy bottled drinks, instead, I always have a water bottle. I refuse plastic straws. I refuse plastic bags at all shops and take my own reusable bags. I avoid buying fresh produce in plastic and buy loose produce instead. For groceries, I try to buy goods that are not wrapped in plastic, preferring cardboard. I recycle any plastic I do buy. I use beeswax wraps for food covers and use Tupperware containers for sandwiches, biscuits etc. rather than plastic wrap. As a teacher, I encourage my students to do the same and educate them on why it is important to reduce plastic waste.  ͟͟   Liz

Editor’s comment: Congratulations, Liz! You are doing an amazing job of not only reducing plastic waste but also educating Aussie youth on the importance of reducing waste for the health and safety of our environment and wildlife.

 

I try hard to buy loose fruit and veggies (unpackaged), also groceries with minimal packaging where possible. At home, I collect all scrunchy plastics into a bag, which once full, I drop in the bag collect bins at the supermarkets. All firmer plastics I place into my recycle bin. When buying drinks of any kind from cafes etc, I always request either no straw, or reusable, or a non-plastic one. I also try to encourage others to do these tasks, and sign as many environmental petitions as I can, plus make donations.  ͟͟   Sean

Editor’s comment: Way to go, Sean! Your actions to reduce plastic waste, help the environment and encourage others to do the same are making a big difference. You are part of the solution to plastic pollution!

 

As a family, we are reducing our plastic waste by creating a pet poop composter in our backyard. We currently use one small plastic bag every day to dispose of the poop from our two dogs and cat. We are going to set up a bokashi system this weekend that will enlist the help from an army of worms to return the poop kindly back into the ecosystem and this will joyfully stop 365 plastic bags (of poop) going to landfill. I’ve never been so happy to talk about poop!  ͟͟   Rachael

Editor’s comment: Rachael, we love to talk about poop too. Composting poop that is ??. Let us know how you go. A fantastic initiative that will help reduce landfill waste.

Many people aren’t aware that you can compost animal waste. One of our favourite composting systems is the Compot by Direct Compost Solution. It’s easy, affordable and you don’t even need a garden to use the Compot. You’ll also get a great discount and 10% of each sale goes to help us protect and conserve wildlife. Find the Compot in our online store.

More ways to ditch the plastic and reduce waste

  • Switch to reusables: Check out our great range of reusable products, including steel straws, bamboo cutlery, bamboo toothbrush, and mesh produce bags. All proceeds go to help us protect and conserve Queensland’s native wildlife. Shop reusables ➡️
  • Get composting: Compost all your kitchen and animal waste with a unique, compact composting solution called the Compot. You’ll be helping to save the environment by reducing council waste AND supporting wildlife as 10% of each sale goes to WPSQ. Shop the Compot ➡️
  • Host a plastic-free event: Find out how to host a plastic-free event with the Boomerang Alliance Plastic Free Council Event Guide. It’s suitable for any event and a MUST-READ for any event organisers who wish to adopt plastic-free policies. Get the Plastic Free Council Event Guide ➡️
  • Cash in your containers: Make money and help your environment by collecting eligible drink containers and taking them to a Containers for Change collection point. You can also donate your refund to Wildlife Queensland projects by quoting our scheme ID number: C10002920. Find out more ➡️

 

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