Roadmap Waste - Zali Steggall

Waste Checklist

Easy

Use a keep cup for your daily coffee. If you forget your cup, make the time to drink your coffee at the cafe
Take a reusable water bottle when you go out

Use reusable shopping bags

Take home-made snacks/sandwiches/meals when you are on the go to reduce the need to buy plastic-wrapped items
Use waxed cloths to keep food fresh
If you drive to the shops, keep reusable shopping bags in the car and remember to take them with you!
Bring your own container when getting take-away meals

Use your own reusable fruit/vegetable bags or shop at a store that provides them
Say no to straws

Avoid coffee pods, or use reusable pods

Avoid teabags (especially those that contain plastic) and use loose-leaf tea

Buy the 'imperfect' produce
Use shampoo bars rather than shampoo in plastic bottles
Swap to rechargable batteries
Pick up rubbish on the beach, or anywhere, when you see it

Reuse wrapping paper and packaging
Dine in rather than take away
Use towels, sheets, clothes etc to pack fragile items when moving (as opposed to bubble wrap) etc.

Moderate

Buy products with no/minimal packaging
Buy coffee from a Responsible Cafe

Give gifts that are reusable and have no plastic packaging and minimal other packaging
Cook from scratch and reduce packaging

Make up a system that suits you to remember your reusable coffee cup and waterbottle so you've always got it with you
Stockpile plastic wrapping/bags/clingwrap and recycle in the Coles / Woolworths recycle bins
Ask your favourite cafes/restaurants/food shops to become a trashless takeaway outlet

Buy items made from recyclable materials
Mend and repair things rather than throwing away

Use brown paper bags and greaseproof paper to wrap sandwiches (if you don't have beeswax wraps) rather than plastic
Reuse or repurpose things you already have rather than buying new
Go paperless
Before you buy a new item, ask yourself "do I need it?"
Shop for second hand clothes and household goods before purchasing new items
Find a drycleaner (if you really need to use one) that offers reusable garment bags and return the hangers if you do not need them
Recycle clothes and textiles that cannot be sold or donated so it doesn't go to landfill

Borrow or rent items that you only need occasionally
Find a hairdresser that is part of the Sustainable Salons Australia program

If you have a business, conduct a Bin Trim review

Difficult

Be a recycling afficianado

Compost your food scraps

Start a worm farm

Buy from companies that reduce waste throughout their supply chain

Avoid buying items that cannot be reused or recycled

Download checklist 1

Download checklist 2

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