How to Be Waste Free

T h o u g h you can’t physically see the rubbish, the way you travel could be producing a lot of waste and having a bigger impact on the planet than you think. Here are some simple ways to reduce your carbon emissions without changing too much.

In most big cities public transport is pretty good, go online to check what is available in your city and for timetables.

You will be amazed how many people are giving away bikes online for free or super cheap.

If you have the time, plan out your day so that you don’t have to rush to get your errands done and enjoy the process of traveling between places by foot. Shop and live locally to the

places you will be spending most of your time, i.e. work, school, university etc. It will save you money and time in the long run. If you really have to drive, save

a trip and pack the car full. Same goes for errands - if you must drive, plan out your trip to be the most efficient use of time and energy that you can.

Composting is a super effective way to use your food scraps as the process produces super nutrient rich soil whilst breaking it all down. Sprinkle that on your garden (whether backyard or windowsill) and watch it thrive. There are loads of different options for compost bins; if you go to your local garden store they will be able to help you out.

If you happen to have any waste left over after recycling and composting, be sure to buy biodegradable bin bags - they can be found in health food stores and some supermarkets.

Do some research online on bin collection through your local government or community groups. You might be surprised to find out that you can request for your compost to be collected once a month or that there is a place you can go to drop off your scraps.

Check your local area for community gardens. Usually they will be very welcoming of good quality food scraps for their garden, and who knows, it may spark an interest in greening your thumb.

Anything you can buy new, you can buy secondhand. Next time you need something from the store, be sure to check out the local charity/thrift shops or online classifieds/selling groups for that item first. Odds are you will be able to find plenty of what you’re looking for, usually high quality and for a much lower price. Not only are you giving something a second life before it gets summoned to the dump, you also save on all that useless packaging and plastic.

You can find everything from furniture, high quality blenders, yoga mats, bikes, prams, picture frames, you name it! Once you start secondhand shopping you’ll never go back.

Instead of throwing out that CD player that hasn’t been used since So Fresh 2010, try selling it online, or at a local buy and sell market to make a bit of extra $$. Otherwise, ask friends if they want it or take it to a charity/ thrift shop.

This one also falls under the secondhand shopping header because honestly you can find some of the snazziest things in those palaces. (That was originally a typo but I think it suits!) Instead of searching big shopping centers for hours to find that perfect present, get your friend a one-of-a-kind hat or an old book with a second story to tell.

Homemade presents are also my goto gifts! Some of my favorites include:

• DIY hot chocolate ingredients in a jar.

• Old candles melted down into a cute repurposed jar with new scents added.

• Homemade notebooks made from recycled materials.

• And if you’re artsy, portraits of loved ones and pets are always a winner.