Our Year-Long Challenge: Filling Just One Wheelie Bin of Trash
Our Year-Long Challenge: Filling Just One Wheelie Bin of Trash
Juliet Dale of The Great Eco Journey set her family a challenge: to fill only one council wheelie bin of rubbish for the entire year. Here’s how they’re tackling this ambitious goal and what they’ve learned along the way.
What Inspired This Goal?
We’ve been gradually reducing our waste for a couple of years. However, towards the end of 2020, we decided we were ready for a bigger challenge. We wanted to demonstrate that reducing waste isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Our goal is to inspire others to consider their own waste production and take steps to minimize it.
Our Previous Waste Production
Two-and-a-half years ago, we were generating around a full wheelie bin of rubbish every week. This amount of waste was unsustainable and we knew we had to make a change. Our journey towards waste reduction began with small steps, but we’ve since committed to this year-long challenge to further reduce our environmental impact.
Our Experience So Far
The challenge hasn’t been as difficult as we initially thought. The key has been a change in mindset, particularly regarding consumption. Before purchasing anything, we consider the end-of-life of that product and how much we truly need it. This shift in perspective has significantly reduced our waste.
Will We Reach Our Goal?
It’s going to be close, but we’re optimistic. Currently, we’re slightly over where we should be, but we’re confident that we can push it down as the bin gets fuller. Every small effort counts, and we’re determined to reach our goal.
Lessons Learned
One of the most significant lessons has been learning about items that can be recycled but not through curbside recycling programs. For example, polystyrene, garments, paint pots, and even bras can be recycled through various specialized schemes. I’ve compiled a list of these schemes on The Great Eco Journey for others to reference.
What We’ve Thrown Out So Far
Most of the items we’ve had to dispose of include receipts (which often have a thermo-plastic lining and can’t be recycled), broken crockery, and kids’ toys that break easily. Additionally, we’ve had to throw out a few one-off broken items like a pair of kids’ sandals, a toilet brush, and a coat hanger.
Dealing with Smelly Food and Pet Waste
We don’t throw out any food waste; we compost it all, including meat and bones. This practice has helped us avoid issues with smelly food waste. We also made a pet-poo composter a year or so ago, so we don’t have to deal with pet waste in our bin. While I’m sure our bin will get pretty stinky in a few months, we’re committed to not opening it unless necessary.
Tips for Reducing Waste
- Compost Food Waste: Composting all food waste, including meat and bones, can significantly reduce the amount of trash you produce.
- Consider Product Lifecycle: Before making a purchase, think about the end-of-life of the product and whether you truly need it.
- Recycle Specialized Items: Many items can’t be recycled through curbside programs but can be recycled through specialized schemes. Research and utilize these options.
- Repurpose Broken Items: Instead of throwing out broken items, consider if they can be repurposed or fixed.
- Educate Yourself: Learn about what can and can’t be recycled in your area. Knowledge is power when it comes to waste reduction.
