Chocolate, egg hunts and family gatherings are all part of the fun and festivities, but celebrations don’t have to end with overflowing bins.
This Easter, be conscious about the waste you generate. Avoiding waste altogether is best but if you can’t, try and reduce your waste, reuse things wherever you can, and recycle what’s leftover.
Every effort helps when it coming to minimising what ends up as landfill.
Your actions will inspire those around you to do the same and the positive impacts will flow on and on.
Here are some easy ways to help reduce your waste this Easter, which will save you money as an added bonus! Make your own…
Easter baskets
Repurposing an old tissue or shoe box into colourful homemade Easter basket is a great way to reuse packaging. Use textas and paint to brighten it up, staple on a cardboard handle and you’re all set for the egg hunt.
Make it a family Easter tradition by getting the whole family around the table and have everyone make their own basket. Traditions make great family memories.
Hot cross buns and Easter eggs
Another Easter tradition could be a big baking session. Making your own hot cross buns is easier than you think, and avoids all the plastic packaging that goes with most store-bought ones.
You could also look at investing in some chocolate molds that you can reuse every year to make your own Easter eggs.
Choose items with the least packaging
The less wrapping the better, so when buying things like Easter eggs, opt for those that don’t have multiple layers of packaging.
Family gatherings without the overflowing bins
Having family and friends over doesn’t have to end in copious amounts of waste – or cost you a lot of money. Here are few tips to help minimise your waste:
Don’t buy too much food, which will end up going to waste. People tend to mostly over-cater than under-cater, so as you fill your trolley ask yourself if you are actually going to need each item. If you’re worried about running out of food, have supplies on hand that can easily be stored or frozen if it’s not looking like it they’ll be eaten.
For platters, go to your local bulk wholefoods store and buy what you can unpackaged.
Avoid single-use cutlery and plates. Use your own; people will help you wash up.
There’s no need to buy individually bottled water; just use a jug of water and your own cups.
When storing leftovers, oft for containers with lids over foil and plastic food wrap.
Recycle your Easter waste
Foil: Scrunch it in a ball and throw it in your yellow-lid bin.
Cardboard: Pop this in your yellow-lid bin.
Rigid plastic packaging: If it the recycling triangle is numbered 1,2, 3, 4 and 5, it can go in your yellow-lid bin.
Soft plastic packaging (like plastic bags and wrappers): Collect these in a plastic bag and drop them off at the REDcycle bin at your local supermarket. They’ll be recycled and turned into new products such as outdoor furniture and decking.
