The 4Rs: The Guiding principles for dealing with waste.
At the recent MPBA AGM two speakers spoke about the waste we generate , what we do with it and facilities and organisations that allow this. But the big message was WE ALL NEED TO REDUCE OUR WASTE.
The 4Rs
Rethink – what am I buying that could become waste and reconsider what I think is waste.
Reduce – reduce what you buy.
In Mosman, 40% of red bin content is food.
Here are some ideas to reduce food going into the red bin:
Shop more often so food is fresh, does not go off, and is not thrown out.
Scrub don’t peel veggies
Use more of your veggies and fruit. For example, if you are a broccoli eater, eat the stems, not just the flowers.
Keep food waste out of the red bin by composting or using a worm farm
Reuse – before you consider recycling, think about how all the stuff we buy can be reused. For example:
Clothes and other goods can go to op shops or charities.
In the case of food, freeze leftover food for another meal.
Turn food into rich compost/soil by using a compost bin or a worm farm for veggie and fruit scraps
Recycle – look at opportunities to recycle the many things we no longer use. Such as:
Recycle glass and cans in your council recycling service. It helps if you give them a quick wash before putting them in the bin
Recycle paper and cardboard via your council recycling service
Garden waste In Mosman(in the green bin) is turned into high-quality compost.
Subscribe (at no cost) to RecycleSmart . Check the RecycleSmart website to learn what they will accept to be recycled, and check with your council to see if it is signed up for this service. RecycleSmart will come directly to your home to collect your recyclables (more details on their website).
Other facilities and opportunities to help you safely dispose of tricky waste:
RecycleSmart is a great service (see above)
Residents in the North Sydney, Mosman, Willoughby, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde can use the community Recycling centre at 8 Waltham St Artarmon.
E-waste collections run by your council
Garden and other chemical collections that the EPA manages.
