Eco‐Wise Action
Smart Shopping and Waste
This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment
Today’s workshop • About what you buy and what you throw away • Includes a home check list and lots of ideas
Background information
Reducing waste does not mean going without
Waste
m r a t e e t r i a a ls w energy
products waste
Photo: Samuel Mann
Greenhouse Gases
192 kg of waste per person per year
methane gas
buried landfill Stops land being used for other purposes contaminates soil leaching into groundwater underground water
How long does rubbish last? Glass bottle
Paper bag
Cigarette butt
Aluminium can
Banana
Wool sock
Leather boot
Rubber sole
Cotton rag
Styrofoam cup
(e.g. soft drink)
Tin can (e.g. baked beans)
Plastic rings for holding six‐ packs
Plastic jug
Rubbish lasts a long time! • banana ‐ 3 to 4 weeks • paper bag ‐ 1 month • cotton rag ‐ 5 months • wool sock ‐ 1 year • cigarette butt ‐ 2 to 5 years • leather boot ‐ 40 to 50 years • rubber sole ‐ 50 to 80 years • tin can ‐ 80 to 100 years • aluminium can ‐ 200 to 500 years • plastic rings for holding 6‐packs ‐ 450 years • plastic jug ‐ 1 million years • Styrofoam cup ‐ unknown – forever? • glass bottle ‐ unknown – forever?
How to shop smarter and reduce waste
Photo by sari dennise from Mexico City
compost bin
worm farm
bokashi bin
Image by mercedesfromtheeighties
Photo: joguldi
Photo:Â joguldi
Junk mail sticker
Using the home checklist
Using the home checklist Smart shopping checklist Easy Actions Do you write a shopping list before shopping?
Write a shopping list to avoid buying things that will not be used.
No Ö Do you throw out packaging? Yes Ö Do you accept plastic bags when shopping? Yes Ö
Buy items with minimal packaging or with recyclable packaging, e.g. loose fruit and vegetables. Take reusable shopping bags to the shops instead.
Any questions?
What do you want to do?
What was interesting for you?
Next workshop:
Celebration