War on waste! Easy ways to make a difference to our planet

Want to make a difference and help look after our planet? If you’re looking to extra ways that you can reduce, reuse and recycle, we’ve got you covered. A recent post in the North Shore Mums Facebook group was packed with lots of great suggestions about the small changes that we can make in our everyday lives, to help make a big difference to our environment. So challenge yourself to make a change or two, and then add a few more changes. Break those bad habits for the greater good! It all counts.

1. Buy a reusable coffee cup for your daily grind

Say goodbye to those disposable coffee cups and replace it with a reusable keep cup to get your daily caffeine intake. Some cafe’s even offer a discount when bringing your own keep cup!

There’s even a coffee cup with paywave! Check out Frank Green’s Next Generation Visa payWave SmartCup.

Reusable Keep Cups make a fashionable accessory

2. Take your own water bottle

Did you know the average Australian purchases over 50 single-use bottles a year? Multiply that out across our population, and we are consuming over 1 billion single-use water bottles a year. That’s insanity!

So instead of purchasing bottled water, why not bring your own water bottle? You’ll be saving yourself a lot of money too.

Bring your own water bottle with you

3. Take your own container

Thought about taking your own container to the butcher for them to fill up – or even to the local takeaway store? One less plastic container or bag to go into landfill!

4. Say ‘no’ to straws

Do you really need to use straws? Unlikely. But if you can’t drink from a cup, bring your own bamboo or metal straw – it’s so easy to chuck one into your handbag.

5. Replace plastic wrap with Bees Wax Wraps

Bees Wax Wraps are a versatile food wrap system that keep food fresh longer without using plastic wrap. Check out NSM’s Angela Firth’s Bee Queen

Bees Wax Wraps

6. Bring your own bags

Coles and Woolies have finally banned plastic bags in the supermarket, so we’re all getting used to remembering to pack our cloth or reusable bags for our grocery shopping.

But take it one step further by thinking about reducing the plastic we are using within the supermarket to buy our fruit & vegetables. Check out The Swag or what about a Stasher or Onya.

Reusable produce bags

7. Buy (and support!) eco friendly mum, baby and kid products

There are several other ways we can reduce our waste for ourselves and our kids, such as:

Menstrual cups
Reusable nursing pads
Bamboo facial wipes
Cloth nappies
Reusable baby wipes made from flannel
Lunch box with compartments for snacks such as Munchbox and sandwich wraps.

Enjoy a plastic free lunch with Munchbox

8. Recycle soft plastics

The REDcycle Program is a recovery initiative for post-consumer soft plastic. Teaming up with Coles, Woolworths and some of Australia’s most-loved brands to make it easy for you to keep your plastic bags and soft plastic packaging out of landfill. Have a look at REDcycle Program to see what can or can’t be recycled and the current locations.

Soft plastic recycling

9. Compost

Reduce your food waste and get those nutrients back in the garden! If you have a backyard having a worm farm or compost bin is a great way to reduce food waste. Don’t have the room outside for a worm farm or compost bin? Indoor composting bins for the kitchen also exist. Check out Bokashi

Compost Bins

10. Buy and sell second hand items

Reduce the amount of stuff that’s going into landfill by selling your unwanted goods on one of the many second hand websites or facebook groups, and keep an eye out for stuff to buy! You’ll make money on the things you sell, and also score some great bargains from others.

My Kids Market is a brilliant market for families where you can source excellent quality pre-loved baby and kids items. They’re a great place to pick up some bargains, or why not book a stall and sell all your unneeded stuff?

Local Facebook Buy Sell Swap Sites or Free Stuff pages are a great way to find or sell your unwanted items. Hornsby & Surrounding areas, buy swap and sell anything, Mosman Area and Lower North Shore – Sell Buy and Swap, Lower North Shore (Sydney) FREE Stuff & Low Waste Living

Also, don’t forget to check out ebay or Gumtree.

Still want more ideas?

There is lots we can do as a community to reduce our impact on our environment. Local councils also provide lots of resources to help plus run sustainability and environment workshops. Check out your local Council Website.

The Coal Loader in Waverton is the face of sustainability for North Sydney Council. Why not visit and be inspired to make a change in your life!

What to be part of the movement? Then why not join some Facebook groups to get some more handy hints! War on Waste AU or War on Waste Ryde

Let us know of any other ways we can tackle the War on Waste and make a difference!

environment, home, keep cup, landfill, plastic, recycle, recycling, reduce, sustainability, war on waste

Rachel Chappell

Rachel Chappell is the Founder & Publisher of North Shore Mums, your go-to for advice, support and inspiration for parenting, mumlife, and kids’ events on Sydney’s North Shore. She's a mum of three daughters.

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