The plastic sea

[Musikat75]

Did anyone else see the article on Sixty Minutes about the amount of plastic in the oceans? Here's a link to the 60 minutes blog sixtyminutes blog > Liam Bartlett: Plastic Sea

I knew there was a lot of waste in the sea but I had no idea it was this bad. I was absolutely gobsmacked.

So, firstly, what do people use in their kitchen rubbish bins? We use the green bags for most shops but every oncein a while we get the shoppping in plastic bags and use them as bin liners. Does anyone know if this is the best thing to do. We are reusing the bags but I guess they are still going into landfill. However, I am dubious about how degradable the biodegradable plastic bin liners are.

Thoughts, ideas? What is better, to buy degradable bin liners or reuse plastic shopping bags?

Kat

[Lousmum]

I saw that too. Very sad

we used to use plastic bags as garbage bags, but now that we use green bags for groceries, I've been buying what is supposed to be a biodegradable garbage bag. I've no idea if it's really any better or not, but I don't know what else to use for waste In the US they have a paper bag option at the supermarket and we used to use those as our garbage bags when we were living there. wish there was an option like that here.

One of the things that's always bugged me is what to put my fruit and veg in? I use the green bags to get the groceries home, but it's really not practical to have a bunch of loose fruit and veg floating around in the trolley and to put through the checkout. After watching the 60 minutes thing I decided that I'm going to knit a number of small mesh "market" bags that I can use to put my fruit and veg in to contain them and keep it easy for the checkout operator for weight etc. That should hopefully cut back on the plastic bags at least.

All the plastic packaging is hard though. Not sure what to do about that apart from not buying stuff with excess package, but hard to do when there isn't really a place where you can buy in bulk for eg, and avoid all the packaging (at least not here in SA that I know of anyway).

I'm also about to trial online grocery shopping so it will be interesting to see what they deliver the goods in. I'm thinking it will be boxes, but not sure. Don't think it says on the website so I'll have to check into that.

[Obsi]

For fruit and veg I made chiffon bags for them. They are light and see through, so I pack my veg in those and they get weighed in them and no need for plastic.

[kirrily]

Since my flatmates moved out a week ago, I've just been using no bag in the kitchen bin. I just tip it straight into the bin outside when it's full and give it a quick rinse and pour the little bit of water I use on the pot plants.

Kim - what Obsi said! : http://www.nappycino.com.au/forum/hy...t-i-think.html

[Lousmum]

I can't sew Kirrily LOL not even the small amount that looks like is in those bags! I'll have to knit some

[kirrily]

I'm actually just tempted to buy those bags, despite the fact that I can sew, because it would take me longer to make them, than the $8 or whatever it is that they cost.

[milasmum]

On the online shopping thing. I was getting homeshop (woolworths) and I find that the packaging can be excessive. Lots of plastic bags as well as boxes. They tie the bags up really tight too so you cant even reuse them. You just have to rip them open

[Musikat75]

I was going to suggest those fruit/veg bags too Kirrily - I sew as well but I would proabbly prefer to just buy than get the right fabric etc.

Thanks for all your comments. Maybe putting some newspaper in the bottom of the bin as a soak up thing?

[Lousmum]

that's interesting Sarah. thanks for posting that. I'm not going to be using woolworths shop online (cause they don't offer it here ) but an independent company through another supermarket. I'll have to check what their packaging is I think.

[KristyMum]

I saw it too... not surprised tho unfortunately...

we don't use bin bags in our bins at all so that solves the 'what to use in the bin' query for us.

Just the bin as is, and either in the rain for a rinse or second or third-hand water to rinse in summer.