One thing we’ve probably all noticed living all together, in one place, all the time is … (no, not just that younger siblings are really good at playing snap - and cheating) … how much rubbish one household can make, especially when the Council recycling is not a thing.

Here’s some helpful hints from our amazing Enviroschools co-ordinator Jennie Upton, on how to deal with that load. Remember, even when recycling starts again, it all still takes lots of (carbon-producing) resources to move plastics, glass, and paper, so reducing all waste is the place to start.

• If at all possible, store your recycling for now until the collections start up again.

• Plastic Free July have some easy options for reducing single plastic use at home

• Lockdown has meant a “tidy up” in many a household. If you’ve done a Marie Kondo, then don’t make your big tidy up a rubbish headache for our filling-up-fast landfill. Do your neighbours’ kids or your favourite charity shops need your items.

• Get away from fast fashion and into your own style - Stitch Kitchen have ideas for you! http://www.stitchkitchen.nz/

Food waste is another big deal as it turns into those nasty dangerous greenhouse gases. Here’s some tips on how to reduce food waste which do not involve finishing off all the chocolate muffins in one sitting:

• How to shop better than normal during lockdown https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/shop-better-than-normal-lockdown/

• Video on how and why it is useful to meal plan and shop with a list https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCborvpZ4mvAkYXcbZyyNy-w

• Meal planning can reduce how often you shop and shorten your time in the supermarket https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/meal-planning/

https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/10-tips-to-make-meal-planning-easier/

https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/easy-choice-meal-planner

• A guide to which vegetables spoil the fastest https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/guide-vegetables-spoil/

• The Autumn version of Easy Choice Family Kai meal booklets now has two accompanying videos

  • Bacon and corn baked potatoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Le0SrSU3Y

  • Sri Lankan Dahl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ge-zupKZWs

• See all the Love Food Hate Waste videos here https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/food-waste/resources/videos/

It may be autumn, but you can still grow some veges in your perfectly weeded garden (or sprouts and quick salad greens on your dustless windowsills).