Eco‐Wise Action
This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment
Smart Shopping and Waste
Today’s workshop
• About what you buy and what you throw away
• Includes a home check list and lots of ideas
Background information
Reducing wastedoes not mean going without
Waste
energywater materials
products
waste
Photo: Samuel Mann
Greenhouse Gases
192 kg
of waste per person per year
buried landfill
methane gas
underground water
leaching into groundwater
contaminates soil
Stops land being usedfor other purposes
How long does rubbish last?
Banana
Cigarette butt
Leather boot
Cotton rag
Paper bag
Wool sock
Rubber soleTin can (e.g. baked beans)
Aluminium can (e.g. soft drink)
Plastic rings for holding six‐
packsPlastic jug
Styrofoam cup
Glass bottle
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 andreduce waste
Photo by sari dennise from Mexico City
compost bin worm farm bokashi bin
Image by mercedesfromtheeighties
Photo: joguldi Photo: joguldi
Junk mail sticker
Using the home checklist
Using the home checklist
Take reusable shopping bags to the shops instead.Do you accept plastic bags when shopping?
Yes
Buy items with minimal packaging or with recyclable packaging, e.g. loose fruit and vegetables.
Do you throw out packaging?
Yes
Write a shopping list to avoid buying things that will not be used.
Do you write a shopping list before shopping?
No
Easy Actions
Smart shopping checklist
Any questions?
What do you want to do?
What was interesting for
you?
Next workshop:Celebration
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