Managing your waste during lockdown
As the whole country stays in some form of lockdown, we have decided to share some tips to turn your trash into treasure. Include your kids in the process as we have included some fun ideas to keep them occupied.
Start by reducing waste
- Buy in bulk, purchase refills and concentrates
- Avoid buying products with excessive packaging
- Buy products made from recycled materials
- Avoid disposable products
- Plan meals ahead to prevent food waste
Start recycling
- Separate your recyclables from your wet waste, keep them aside until you can recycle again, or drop recyclable materials when you go on your shopping trip.
- Clean recyclables and remember to empty milk and drink bottles to prevent smells.
- You can save water by washing recyclables in your sink after you have done the dishes.
- Check out the recycling instructions on the back of packs to know if it is going to landfill or can be recycled.
- Start composting: all those vegetable and fruit peels and egg cartons can eventually feed your garden.
Re-purpose packaging
- Cut up your water bottles and use them to house pens and supplies for your home office or your kids’ activity nooks. Creative kids can decorate them.
- Repurpose old bottles into snack containers.
- Organise cables with your toilet rolls cartons.
Keep the children busy while recycling
- Turn old boxes into recycling bins. Give your children crayons to label and decorate them – glass, paper and cans
- Get the kids to regrow your food scraps in cut-off 2L bottles. It teaches them an important lesson on cutting down on food waste, sustainability and saving money. Leafy scraps are easy to grow – lettuce, spring onion, celery and lemongrass.
- Teach your kids to read and interpret the recycling instructions on the back of packs. Ask them to draw or paint the recycling symbol so they get to know it when they see it.
