Zero Waste Week-Day 2

OK, 1st up, apologies for my moaning yesterday, and huge thanks for all your lovely comments and support!

So, Day 2.
I opened the bin this morning, to assess the extent of yesterday’s waste, only to find that hubby had deposited an empty packet of crisps, AND (this is truly shocking, so brace yourselves) a tea bag and some melon pips.

The evidence!

Needless to say, I fished the teabag and the melon pips out, and put them with the rest of the food waste to go in our Green Johanna. But the crisp bag, I am kind of stuck with. I did manage to persuade hubby to switch from individual packets of crisps, to large family bags, that he then portions up into a sandwich bag (that he uses until it splits!), but he is reluctant to forgo crisps entirely. Does anyone have any Zero Waste answers to the ‘Crisp Conundrum’..?

We then moved swiftly on to breakfast, and I took the last weetabix out of the packet, and then realised that the plasticised paper wrapping is probably not recyclable. Or compostable? Or is it? Let me know if you know!

Next on the agenda was a much needed cuppa, and I had to open a new bottle of milk, and peel the annoying plastic shield thing off the top. I was feeling ok about plastic milk bottles as at least we can recycle them, but now I realise I had forgotten about the annoying plastic shield thing.

I know that the Zero Waste solution is to get glass bottle from the milkman, but I looked into this last year, and we can’t get organic milk delivered in glass bottles. And then, as ever, I am forced to decide which is the lesser of two evils, and rightly or wrongly, I plumped for organic milk, in plastic bottles. But what about the annoying plastic shield thing. Arrrghhhhhh!

My next Zero Waste dilemma involved flowers and a tired and crabby pre-schooler, and no buggy. I wanted to buy a friend some flowers. We were in the supermarket, and I deliberately rejected their offerings because of the plastic cellophane-y wrapping, and thought I would support my local florist, and buy from her. She could then pluck the flowers straight from the bucket and just wrap them in good old paper. So I dragged a slightly recalcitrant SmallSmall across the road, and down the road, and round the car park, and to the bank to get some cash to pay for said flowers, and then on to the florists. Only to find they were shut. Curses! And the thought of dragging SmallSmall to the florists at the other end of town was too much. So we went back to the supermarket, and I have to confess that I did in fact buy cellophane-y type wrapped flowers, and then compounded the whole thing by saying ‘Yes’ when they asked if I wanted them gift wrapped. I naively thought this would just involve paper, but it inevitably didn’t and was 1 layers, one of which looks a little unrecyclable.
Best intentions and all that. 
I think I should get bonus points for honesty on that one, as the rubbish didn’t go into my bin…..

Whilst in the supermarket, doing that whole “just popping in for a pint of milk, and then spending at least a tenner” thing, I realised that we were in need of some alternative sandwich fillings for lunch boxes this week. SmallSmall declared that he would like ham, so we toddled off to the cold meat section. I was just about to take advantage of the 3 packs for £6 offer, when I realised that this was Zero Waste Week, and I was supposed to be Naked Shopping. Needless to say I had no receptacles for placing sliced ham from the deli in, but I did buy some from the deli. It was wrapped in stretchy plastic, which whilst not idea, is at least recyclable (we wash ours, and then stash it all in a bag until it starts blocking the way, and then I make hubby take it to the supermarket and wodge it in the bin for recycling plastic bags-I am assured by a Waste Minimisation Officer friend that this is ok).

Other than that (although when you write it down, it sounds loads), I think we’ve done ok today.

As interesting (?) as the contents of my bin may be, the real focus for Day 2 of Zero Waste Week, is looking at disposable items. The daily newsletter from Rachelle, asked what one disposable item could we replace.  
I was feeling pretty smug, as used re-usable nappies with the Smalls for the majority of the time (except at night time as I ‘fessed up to yesterday); I went cold turkey on baby wipes during My Make Do and Mend Year; we use very little kitchen roll; and I use a moon cup rather than tampons of towels. But then I read that this includes things like biros, and razors. And felt slightly less smug.

For biros, the Zero Waste recommendation is either a good old fashioned pencil, or a good old fashioned fountain pen. Or a good new-fashioned i-pad/phone with a note taking facility. Rachelle did also recommend these re-fillable pens, which I think I may look into getting. 
BUT what about felt-tips? Mine go through them at a rate of knots. And each time I throw one in the bin, it makes me feel a bit pants. Other than reenforcing a crayon only rule, I am struggling a little with this one-any ideas would be great!

For razors, Rachelle suggested a Safety Razor, which looks great, but the blades themselves obviously need replacing. Anyone got any other ideas, other than ‘going European’? I would imagine that waxing and sugaring both involve some degree of waste with the strips?

So over to you, what one disposable item are you going to dispose of..?!