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The Yearly Christmas Debate: Real or Fake Tree?
You might be asking yourself this year — should I replace my old Christmas tree with a new store bought one? Perhaps you’ve just moved into a new home and you're unsure whether to choose a real tree or a plastic tree for your first Christmas? Or maybe you’re wondering if your decision to choose a real tree is actually doing more harm than good? We’ll look at all of those options and answer the question: “Is a real Christmas tree better than a plastic tree?” Firstly, unless you need to replace your existing Christmas tree with a new one, the best option is to keep it — or donate it to someone that will use it. Whatever it takes to keep the plastic tree out of landfill, that’s the best option. The next option is what to do if you’re getting a tree for the first time. Plastic or real? As this blog post is written by the owner of a plastic free store, you’re going to guess the answer will be real — but let’s weigh up the options. Plastic Christmas Trees vs Real Trees: SMALL AND COMPACT A cute little countertop tree is suitable for many people that live in apartments. But there are other, just as cute, and far more environmentally friendly options. My personal favourite? A pineapple Christmas tree. There are so many unique ways to decorate a pineapple tree: pop on some wooden sunglasses, add some fairy lights, or hang some ornaments on the pineapple leaves. Bonus: On Christmas Day or Boxing Day if you prefer to wait — you can simply cut the pineapple up and treat yourself to some delicious fruit, add it to a smoothie, enjoy it with yoghurt for breakfast — or make it part of your Christmas dessert. Plastic free ice cream anyone? No need to pack your Pineapple tree away in the storage room. Once you've cut that delicious, juicy fruit up, simply add the skin to your compost and if you live in a suitable environment, stick the pineapple head straight into the ground. You can now enjoy the same treat again year after year. LONG LASTING Buying a real tree may be financially out of reach for some people — so instead they choose the cheaper option of having a plastic tree that lasts a long time — one they can decorate with the family over and over again. You know what else lasts a really long time and doesn't harm the environment? A real living plant. While it would be ideal to have a potted pine tree, if that’s not a plant that’s native to your area, than any potted plant will do. You can start off with a small potted plant and place it outside in the new year. Live in an apartment and have no room to place it outside? See the above option with a pineapple tree, or simply buy a plant that can be left inside all year round. If you really want a pine tree, and you’re not interested in “pineapple” tree, and you have no room to store the plant inside your home come the New Year — then let your plant grow new roots — place it in the ground. Place it in your yard, watch it grow and decorate it outside each year. What a treat that will be for the kids to decorate their first tree again, and again for 20+ years to come. BIODEGRADABLE, RECYCLABLE & REUSABLE While a plastic tree may be reusable, it's most definitely not biodegradable or recyclable. Plastic Christmas trees aren’t recyclable, so when they’re inevitably thrown away, they end up in landfill, going nowhere fast. Still not convinced that a real tree is more eco-friendly here are some more sustainable reasons why you should say no to a plastic tree. While plastic trees are typically made in China, and shipped overseas - then shipped across the country to your local store, real trees are grown in your local area. So you know when you purchase a real tree you are not only supporting your local economy, you're also supporting the local flora and fauna. Real trees can be reused, replanted, recycled into mulch and/or composted. FIRE RESISTANCE Plastic Christmas trees on the other hand, are often treated with fire-resistant chemicals — reducing the risk of your tree catching on fire. However, plastic will still burn in the optimum conditions, and when it does the fumes are toxic. As long as a real tree has been properly maintained, meaning they are kept healthy, they are kept watered and they stay green they can be less of a fire danger. Experts also note that the placement of your real tree is also important: be sure to keep it away from heat sources and make sure you turn off the Christmas tree lights during the day and when you’re sleeping. Want some evidence? Check out this video demonstration of a watered Christmas tree vs. a dry tree. CHRISTMAS TREE MAINTENANCE There is no denying it, real trees smell beautiful and they bring a wonderful feeling to the home. But there is a downside: real trees require maintenance. Just because you’ve cut it doesn’t mean it’s not still living. A real tree will require water and without water it will start shedding its pines. For some that might a mess they’d rather not deal with. In this instance a plastic tree would be more beneficial but when you weigh up all the other issues surrounding plastic trees such as the required storage in your home, the fact that one day that tree is going to landfill and will be polluting the environment long after you’ve left the planet — the inconvenience of watering the plant and cleaning up a few pine needles shouldn’t be a deterrent for getting a real tree. There are so many other benefits to having a real tree that outweigh the maintenance issue, such as: Unlike plastic trees, real trees don’t require intensive carbon emission from the production and shipping. They are typically locally grown and therefore support the local economy. Buying a real tree you will be not only supporting your local economy, but also supporting forests, that support the air that you breathe — it’s pretty hard to argue against that! Once the Christmas festivities are over a real tree can be turned into mulch and reused. If it’s stored in a pot over the Christmas period it can be repotted or replanted. Nothing beat the smell of a fresh pine tree. You can’t compare a fresh plastic scented tree to a fresh pine scented tree. One is nostalgic as a crisp, fresh evergreen and the other — well it smells like plastic. Christmas trees take approximately 10 years to grow to height of 6 feet. During that growth stage, they provide a habitat for wildlife and capture carbon from the atmosphere. Let’s be honest aside from there being less mess — there are no real benefits to having a plastic tree — it’s going to eventually end up in landfill, polluting the environment.
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Eco-friendly gift wrapping for any occasion
Eco-friendly Christmas gift wrapping doesn't have to mean simply wrapping in brown paper and adding a gift tag — although it does make for a nice gift! You can spice up that brown paper by adding your own Christmas stamps to the paper, you can add a colourful ribbon, add some leaves or natural elements to the gift, or you can simply add an old Christmas decoration you received in a Christmas Cracker. The options are endless and are most definitely not "boring". If you're not into the traditional meaning of Christmas, but like to participate in the gift giving because it's fun, or you'd really like to share a gift with your loved one to say thanks for all they've done this year — then skip the traditional green and red paper and opt for something that will pique their interest. Does your loved one like to take long trips in the car? Do they love boating or long for a far away trip? Take and old (or new) map of your recipients favourite (or most desired) location and wrap up your gift in that. Purchased some fishing gear for your husband and he's always wanted to take a fishing trip to the Great Barrier Reef? Wrap up the gift in a map of the reef, I guarantee he'll be itching to know what's in the box! Furoshiki: Gift wrapping with fabric When you opt for eco-friendly gift wrapping, often it means you can easily skip the plastic, especially if you choose to wrap your gifts the traditional Japanese way. Furoshiki is the name given to cloth that Japanese used to transport clothing, gifts or other goods. Not only is this style of gift wrapping 100% plastic free, it's also a beautiful way to wrap a gift. Further more you don't necessarily need to wrap all your gifts in the fabric, you can also add a little plastic free gift on the outside. To assemble your furoshiki gift, take a piece of fabric, bring the opposite sides of the fabric together (top left and bottom right), and tie in a a knot. Then repeat the process on the other side. You may want to use a tea towel or apron to wrap your gift in, making it a two-in-one gift. As it's Christmas time, you may want to add a little extra effort to your gift and add another gift on the outside. We recommend eco-gifts such as a Long handle dishwashing brush, a wooden spoon, a bamboo hair brush or comb. Make it a Two-in-One-Gift Wrapping your gift in a gift — or adding a gift to your wrapping gift is the perfect two in one gift. If you've been following Eorth for a while now you'll know we are big fans of of the two-in-one gift. We mentioned a few two-in-one gift ideas in our post on Gifting Without the Unnecessary Waste. Don't forget that eco-friendly / plastic free gift wrapping doesn't end on Christmas Day. If you want to have a truly eco-friendly Christmas this year then remember to save all that wrapping paper, ribbons and trinkets so you can reuse them next year. You just saved yourself some time and money for next year's Christmas. Want to make your kids super anxious on Christmas Day? Take your time when unwrapping their gifts to you. Unwrap your gift ever so carefully so that you don't rip any of the Christmas paper. It's a great way to watch those paper tearing types go crazy — plus you'll know that you can fold that paper up at the end of the day and place in your "next years wrapping paper" box. It's a win for the environment and a win for your pocket. Gifts that require no wrapping at all If you won't be seeing your loved one for Christmas but still want to send them a gift — or you're looking for a last minute gift that doesn't require wrapping then electronic Gift Cards are the very best choice! Of course we recommend that you select a gift card that will allow the recipient to purchase gifts that won't harm the environment — or better yet buy a gift card for something that will help the environment such as a plant a Rainforest e-card. Whatever choices you make this Christmas, think eco-friendly and plastic free and you and the environment will be looking forward to a happier healthier eco-friendly New Year.
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Hosting a financially friendly and eco-conscious kids party
Hosting a kid's birthday party can be a joyous occasion, but it often comes with a lot of waste and financial strain. From disposable decorations to single-use plates and cups, it can be challenging to host a party without producing a lot of garbage. Additionally, guests may feel pressured to buy expensive birthday presents, which can result in unnecessary waste and financial strain. However, with a little creativity and planning, it is possible to host a fun, sustainable, and budget-friendly party without creating a lot of waste. One easy way to reduce waste is to avoid buying balloons for the party, especially the metallic number balloons, representing the child’s age. Balloons may seem like a fun and festive decoration, but these polyurethane balloons are estimated to take up to a 450 years to degrade. When balloons end up in the environment, they pose a danger to wildlife that may ingest them or become entangled in them. By skipping balloons at your child's party, you can help reduce your environmental impact and teach your child the importance of sustainability. Another way to reduce waste is to request guests bring a coin(s) as a gift rather than bringing a physical present. This approach eliminates the waste that occurs when kids are gifted items they don't need or want, and allows children to choose gifts they will truly enjoy. If one or two dollars doesn’t seem like enough, you could increase the dollar amount, and split it into three segments. For example, make it a $10 gift. $4 can go towards an experience or gift, $3 for the kids Education Savings Fund (or another long term savings plan) and $3 is allocated to a charity of their choice. By encouraging children to save and give back, you can teach them valuable lessons about money management and generosity. Below are some other tips for hosting a sustainable and waste-free kids party: Use reusable or homemade decorations: Instead of buying disposable decorations that will end up in the trash, opt for reusable ones. For example, you can use bunting flags or homemade paper chains that can be stored and reused for future parties. Use real plates and cups: Instead of using disposable plates and cups, use real ones that can be washed and reused. If you’re concerned about breakage, opt for compostable plates and cutlery. Make your own food: Instead of buying pre-packaged snacks and treats, make your own. Homemade treats not only taste better, but they also eliminate the need for single-use packaging such as the large covers that are often placed. Give out sustainable party favours: Instead of giving out plastic toys or trinkets as party favours, consider giving out sustainable options like seed bombs: Kids love getting their hands dirty, so why not give them a chance to get involved in gardening? seed bombs are easy to make and can be tossed into a garden or planter to grow wildflowers. Compost: If you use a Bokaski or other composting system make sure to compost any food scraps and other compostable items such as paper napkins and decorations. You can also take the opportunity to educate other kids and parents on the benefits of composting. By incorporating these tips into your party planning, you can host a fun, sustainable, and budget-friendly party without creating a lot of waste. And by asking guests to bring coins for an experience or gift, their education savings fund, and a charity donation, you can teach children valuable lessons about money management and generosity while also reducing the financial strain on parents and lessening the stress of what to buy. It's a win for the party hosts, win for the birthday boy or girl, and a win for the environment!
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Repurposing Glass Jars
If you're anything like me, you probably don't like to throw out those used glass jars. The your pantry cupboard ends up with a bunch of different size jars that you start to wonder why you saved them in the first place. What should you do with all those glass jars? You can of course add them to the recycle bin — that's a great option, however a better zero waste option would be to reuse those glass jars! Small glass jars are the perfect size for storing and gifting herbs and spices. What do you need to make this awesome green gift? A few small empty glass jars (preferably with metal lids). A tin of chalkboard paint. A small paint brush. A piece of cardboard. Calk. Optional: A small strip of used sandpaper, hemp rope or natural material to attach note to your recipient. Step 1: Sterilise your glass jars and remove the outer labels. Step 2: (Optional) Take your piece of sandpaper and rub the tops of the the metal lids. This step is not necessary, however it's been noted that a rougher surface will allow the paint to adhere better to the lid. If you are completing this step I would ensure that you give it a good rub so that the surface is smooth, otherwise it may be difficult to write your chalk label on the top of the lid. Step 3: Fill your empty jars with your favourite selection of herbs and spices. We've selected some of our freshly dehydrated — straight from the garden, dill and carrot leaves. Dried marinated eggplant (also fresh from the garden!) makes a great vegetable powder. And finally we selected our absolute favourite seasoning — orange powder made from dehydrated orange peels. Step 4: Write on the tops of the labels with coloured chalk to identify your herbs, spices and seasonings. (Optional) add a note to your recipient and attach with a piece of hemp rope or natural material. Happy zero waste gifting — or happy pantry storage!
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4 Tips for a Plastic Free Laundry Room
Whether you’re just getting started on your plastic free journey or you’ve been on the path for a while there’s always another step you can take to reduce your reliance on plastic. Reducing this reliance may be as simple as ditching your much loved dryer sheets or, on those sunny days, skipping the dryer altogether. Not only will these steps reduce your reliance on plastic, they’ll also reduce your environmental footprint. Hanging your clothes to try instead of using the dryer means you’ll be not only saving on your power bill you’ll be taking small steps to help save the planet too. A win for you and a win for the environment. 1. Choose Stainless Steel Pegs Who hasn’t gone to place a plastic peg on the line only to have it snap apart in their hands. The best way to tackle this unfortunately very common problem? Make the switch to a plastic free peg, opt for Stainless Steel Pegs instead. Those bits of plastic that break apart in your hands can’t be recycled. They are simply another useless piece of plastic that’s headed straight to landfill. Stainless Steel Pegs won’t break apart in your hands like plastic pegs do. Stainless Steel Pegs won’t burn your hands in the hot sun – they’re made from one single piece of wire with a hole at the top which allows air to flow through them, keeping them cool. Stainless Steel Pegs are very strong and hold well to the line, even in windy weather. The big question everyone asks is “will these pegs rust”? When you purchase 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Pegs you can be assured they won’t rust on your clothes line. If you want more information on the longevity of Stainless Steel Pegs visit our blog post on Environmentally Friendly Clothes Pegs. Switching to Stainless Steel Pegs means you’ll be purchasing one less item of unnecessary plastic, and stainless steel pegs will last you a lifetime. 2. Add some Wool Dryer Balls to your Clothes Dryer Our next tip for ditching the unnecessary plastic in your laundry room is say goodbye to laundry dryer sheets and hello to Wool Dryer Balls. Yes those laundry dryer sheets are simply single use plastic. You pop them into your clothes dryer then, then toss them after the laundry is done. It’s kind of amazing when you think about how wasteful they are, how they made it onto the market in the first place. But … here we are in a world full of waste. Wool Dryer Balls are simply wool all bound up into a tight little ball. These balls have many functions, they bounce around with your clothes in the dryer, sucking out the water while allowing air to be added to the clothes. This process not only reduces static, it also reduces drying time and creates soft fluffy fabric. Reducing your drying time means a reduction in your electricity bill. Did we mention that’s a win for you and a win for the environment? The best part about wool dryer balls is that they can be safely added to your compost once they start breaking down (this could take several years with regular use). You can also add some essential oils onto the balls for a beautiful fresh scent. 3. Spot Clean with Laundry Soap Have a small mark on your laundry items? Instead of reaching for the bottle of liquid stain remover, or one of those fancy plastic laundry pens — pull out your bar of laundry soap. Laundry soap contains coconut oil which is a great for removing stains. Simply run the bar of laundry soap over the stained area — add water, rub fabric together gently to create suds. You can continue this process until the stain has been removed. For stubborn stains, soak the garment in cold water overnight. If necessary repeat the process above. Just make sure when you purchase your laundry soap it doesn’t come wrapped in plastic! 4. Hang Your Clothes to Dry Our last tip on creating a plastic free laundry room, isn’t necessarily only a plastic free tip but one that will save you money, reduce your power bills and reduce your reliance on electricity — one that Mother Nature will love. Unless it’s pouring rain, or you simply have nowhere in your home to hang your clothes to dry — skip the clothes dryer and hang your clothes to dry. It really is that simple to switch to a plastic free lifestyle!
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Plastic Free Deodorant: The past, present and future
Deodorant: Through the years The first trademarked deodorant was released in the United States in the late 1800s. This paste form deodorant was packaged in a small tin jar and, as you would expect, the deodorant was applied under the arm pits. It wasn't until the late 1950s (around the same time plastic manufacturing started gaining steam), manufacturers of the ball point pen took inspiration from their pen design and released a new roll on deodorant called Ban Roll-On. Unlike most roll on deodorants today, the main vessel for holding the liquid deodorant was housed in a glass container, the liquid was released using the same plastic rolling ball technique used in modern plastic deodorant packaging. Years later an aerosol perspirant spray deodorant was released. Although immensely popular at the time (and still used today), aerosol deodorants lost their stronghold in the market in late 70s due to scientific evidence showing chemicals released from the aerosol containers were harming the ozone layer. In the late 1970s the decline from aerosol usage increased the popularity of push up deodorants. Single use plastic packaged deodorant, that sees the deodorant pushed up by a twisting plastic mechanism. This style of deodorant packaging is still one of the most popular forms of deodorant on the market today. And herein lies the issue. These popular deodorants are packaged in plastic, and the majority of this plastic is either not recyclable or simply does not make it to the recycling stream. We need to see a drastic reduction in the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis. Recycling plastic is not the answer to the growing plastic pollution problem we face today. What's the alternative to a roll on deodorant or plastic push-up tube? As with all single use plastic items, the solution is to simply stop buying single use products packaged in plastic. If the deodorant has no plastic packaging then what's the alternative? If you'd like your beauty routine to remain similar to the modern convenience that "single use plastic" offers today, then a deodorant in a cardboard push up tube is the most suitable alternative. Natural deodorants are not only natural and effective, by using a natural deodorant in a cardboard tube means you'll be eliminating more more piece of plastic from your bathroom. Once your deodorant tube is empty it can be easily added to your compost, making it the ultimate plastic free, zero waste deodorant. There are also deodorants on the market today that are in paste form, that are packaged either in a glass jar or a metal tin. This means you apply the deodorant in the same way as they did back in the 1800s — either dipping your finger into the paste or using a spatula to apply the paste to your pits. For many the thought of putting their finger into a jar of paste, then applying under their arms makes them a little uncomfortable. And, after years of conveniently using a single use plastic container to apply your deodorant, it's understandable that switching to a non plastic/deodorant paste may require some adjustments in your thoughts around touching your armpits! You can rest assured, applying a little paste under your own clean arm pits really is not as icky as you may think. It's no different than using your hands to apply moisturiser to any other part of your skin! No matter which method of deodorant you choose, the best choice is always to go plastic free. It's our obligation to the planet that provides us with fresh food, clean water, clean air and the shade from the sun to give back what we take away. And giving back plastic is definitely not the answer.
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Ecosia: Searching for a better future
One million trees for Brazil After taking it's time to reach the mainstream media it's now well known that the Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate. Sitting in our homes far from the Amazon many of us are asking "what can we do?" One action we can take is to search online, become more informed about the how and why of the situation. While heading to Google to conduct these searches is great, the way to make a difference is make the switch to Ecosia. Ecosia is a search engine that donates at least 80 % of its profits from search ad revenue to planting trees. For every 40 to 50 online searches, using the Ecosia search browser, they plant a tree. Since forming the company back in 2009 they have raised over $3 million and planted over 30 million trees across the globe. Aside from helping the environment, Ecosia doesn't sell your data to advertisers, they do not store your searches, and all searches are securely encryped. If you’re wondering how you can help the Amazon rainforest, the answer is simple, make the switch to Ecosia. Simply add the free Chrome browser extension, open Ecosia, search for details about the Amazon fires (as well as other searches) and watch their tree count grow! In July this year, prior to the recent outrage over the fires raging in the Amazon Ecosia committed to planting 1 million additional trees in Brazil. Ecosia work in close connection with farmers in Brazil, teaching them about the benefits of maintaining a health forest, keeping soil fertile and spreading the word on how trees can be an alternative to soy production or cattle farming (soy and cattle farming are two commercial issues that are being blamed for the recent rise in fires in the Amazon). “With these additional one million trees in Brazil, we are setting a sign: another world is possible and we will not back down in our efforts to make it a reality”, says Ecosia CEO, Christian Kroll. For more information on the Ecosia search engine, or to start searching visit https://www.ecosia.org/
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Creating solutions from orange peel waste
What’s not to love about oranges? They’re high in Vitamin C making them great for your health. The oils from the peels are not only great for your skin and hair, they provide an uplifting scent and are effective at killing bacteria. If you’ve ever decided to skip the plastic and make your own fresh orange juice, you’ll know there’s a lot of waste left behind. So many orange peels! Many people believe that citrus peels should not be added to your compost. While it’s not recommended that you add an abundance of peels to your home compost, they can be safely added to in small amounts. It’s even been shown that adding orange peels in large amounts can be beneficial to soil. Discarded orange peels used to rebuild a Costa Rican forest Photo Credit: Newatlas.com In the late nineties ecologists Daniel Janzen and Winnie Halwachs undertook a scientific research project that would study the effects of dumping large amounts of orange pulp and peels onto a three-hectare stretch of former cattle pasture.[1] The land, located in Costa Rica, was covered with over 12,000 metric tons of oranges peels. The end goal — to achieve a perfect synergy between industry and conservation. Fifteen years later in 2013, a follow up study on the effects of orange peels on the land was conducted by a university graduate.[2] What he discovered was a forest that was completely overgrown with trees and vines. Not only that the area that was fertilised with orange waste had richer soil, more tree biomass, and greater forest canopy closure. Creating cleaning products from orange peels If you don’t have a big chunk of degraded land that you can dump tons of orange peels on then there are many of other ways you can use up those peels. Orange peels can be dehydrated, ground to a fine powder and used and many applications. They can be used for baking, used in salad dressings and even used in as a gentle exfoliator in soap! One popular way to extract the benefits of oils in orange peels is to soak them in vinegar for a few weeks, strain and use as an all-purpose kitchen spray. Citrus peels have also been used in India to not only manage waste from the fruit but also to provide a bio-toilet cleaning solution. Indian start-up ToWaSo (TOWArds SOlution), collected fruit waste from roadside juice vendors, and placed the citrus peels, water and microbes into large plastic drums.[3] After a few weeks the waste product became a suitable cleaning solution that was suitable to not only keep toilets clean but the floors and walls as well. DIY Orange Peel Bioplastic While soaking orange peels to extract their oils for use in kitchen sprays may sound like a perfect way to use up your peels, unfortunately there is still waste to deal with — the peels do not break down into the vinegar solution so you’ll still need to discard them. This brings us to the next fantastic way to not only combat orange waste, but also to conduct a basic science experiment. If you’re seeking out a fun, DIY plastic free science experiment to explore with the kids then we’ve got the project for you. Learn how you can create bioplastic from orange peels! Ingredients: 15 ml water 25 g citrus peel 50g cornstarch 2g sodium bicarbonate 5ml lemon juice 5ml sage oil 5ml vinegar You can find all the details and instructions in the video below: SPINNING ORANGE PEELS INTO FABRICS If you’re not the DIY type but love throwing your support behind zero waste ideas, then wearing orange peels may be more appealing to you. Italian fabric company Orange Fibre[4] put their spin on using citrus peel waste by turning it into a silk-like cellulose yarn. Taiwanese actress, model and sustainability influencer Chiling Lin made a sustainable fashion statement at the 2018 Global Change Awards ceremony, dressing in a gown made from Orange Fibre fabric.[5] The custom-made black and floral print dress was designed by Chatarina Forseth, a H&M concept designer. It featured two layers of recycled tulle fabric along with the Orange Fibre twill which is was composed of 50 per cent acetylated orange cellulose fibre and 50 per cent organic silk. [1] https://www.princeton.edu/news/2017/08/22/orange-new-green-how-orange-peels-revived-costa-rican-forest [2] https://newatlas.com/orange-peel-forest-costa-rica/51012/ [3] https://www.thebetterindia.com/170732/jharkhand-innovation-green-low-cost-toilet-cleaner/ [4] http://orangefiber.it/ [5] http://orangefiber.it/news/lin-chi-ling-wears-orange-fiber-gown/
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Composting — the fastest way to reduce waste
A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS One of the first things people asked when plastic bag bans were introduced was: “now what am I going to use for my kitchen garbage bags?” While this may seem like a very logical question, I believe the real questions is: “Why are people still using plastic bags for their kitchen waste?” The reason why most people use plastic bags for their waste is because there’s usually wet materials being placed into the bag. For example: vegetable scraps, fruit peels and cores, any food scraps coming off plates and egg shells. Adding these types of products to a paper bag, then hoping that the contents don’t fall all over your kitchen floor, is a recipe for disaster. And there it is — the reason people use plastic bags for their garbage. The question then becomes: “Why are you adding food waste to your household garbage?” Ozharvest estimates that food waste makes up 35% of household waste. If you’re looking to reduce your household waste, and you’re still throwing your food waste then get excited, because you’re about to get introduced to the fastest way to reduce your household waste — by thirty-five percent! We’ve written may articles before on composting; how different materials break down in a compost, the difference between biodegradable and compostable, questioning whether products actually biodegrade or if it's simply greenwash, as well as run many tests on compostable products to see if they pass the test. However, in this blog post we’re addressing why you should compost, and we’ll let you in on what we like to call the lazy gardeners, simple method of reducing waste. Why Should You Compost? There are so many reasons why you should compost that I’m not sure I can write them all in one blog post, but I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t! Here’s a few reasons why I think composting is the king of reducing waste: Composting is a fun and educational tool that can be used to teach kids (and perhaps yourself too) how long things take to compost, or return back to nature. Who doesn’t want great soil to use for their veggie garden or flower garden? Compost provides your plants with all the nutrients they require — great soil means delicious, healthy vegetables, (or beautiful flowers)! If you leave your food scraps in the bin too long you’ll soon experience the not so pleasant smell of rotting food. This equates to putting your garbage out sooner, meaning more plastic bags are headed straight to landfill. ???? There are so many things you can compost, not just the obvious food scraps but you can also add hair, cotton buds (the bamboo stemmed variety), paper and dryer lint and dirt from your vacuum (note you should only add these two items if you are confident there are no plastic particles in them). And finally you’ll reduce household waste by at least 35% when you start composting! There you have it, five great reasons why you should start composting today! While there are several different ways you can compost, I’d like to introduce you to the easiest, hassle free way of composting . . . Trialling Different Composting Systems I’d tried several different methods of composting over the years. My first composting venture was using a worm farm. This was a great experience, and it's perfect for those that live in places that don't have outdoor areas where they can tend to their compost piles. Or in my case at the time, if you live in an area with bears, you'll want to keep that compost inside! The downside of worm composting? There are certain items you can’t add to your compost and essentially it’s like owning a pet (or hundreds or pets)! If you’re heading out of the home for several weeks you’ll need to ensure they are well feed so they don’t starve to death. You'll also need to retrieve the casings / soil from the farm, which means handling worms. If the thought of touching worms creeps you out, then you'll want to cross worm composting off your list. The next type of composting system I tried was a barrel compost. A large round barrel on a stand with a handle on the side that you use the regularly rotate the compost. Using this type of composting is very similar to traditional pile composting, meaning that you need to add the correct balance of brown to green matter. Personally, I’m far too lazy of a gardener (or time poor) to fuss with this type of system so when my neighbour told me about the simple method of Bokashi composting I was intrigued. The Secret to a Simple Compost System What the heck is Bokashi? Bokashi is a Japanese word that means “fermented organic matter”. To put it simply, Bokashi composting is a method whereby you layer your food scraps into a large sealed bucket. On top of each layer you place bokashi mix which aids the fermentation of the food scraps. This fermentation process is what helps your food scraps break down faster when added to soil. Bokashi composting is the perfect method for a “lazy gardener”, or a “lazy composter”. You can add all your food scraps to Bokashi, including meat, dairy, citrus and egg shells. Simply add your food waste to a (specially designed) bucket that has a tap on the bottom. Layer with Bokashi mix and repeat until the bucket is full. Once full, dig a large hole in the garden, add the entire contents of the bucket to the hole, cover with dirt and let Mother Nature do her thing! And there it is, the easiest, hassle free way to compost your food waste! Are you an expert composter or just beginning your composting journey? Perhaps you've been wanting to give it a try but aren't quite ready for the next step? If you're the later, and you have some questions regarding composting specific to where you live leave a comment below, hopefully I can help you with the next step!
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