Tips to save money, reduce waste

Much of the waste sent to landfill can be avoided. Finding enough space for landfill is also a difficult issue in growing cities like Sydney. Waste disposal is a significant cost to all residents, through council rates and government taxes. Recycling is good, but waste avoidance and reuse is even better! Try these smart tips to reduce the amount of waste you produce.

Smart Shopping

  • Rethink your purchases – only buy what you really need.
  • Avoid excessive packaging, try to buy items with recycled packaging.
  • Say NO to plastic shopping bags – use cardboard boxes or cloth bags.
  • Buying bulk is often cheaper – don’t always buy single serve products.
  • Buy reusable items instead of disposable products such as plastic and paper plates.
  • Choose products with recycled content, such as recycled paper.

For more information on living more sustainably at home, work and play visit the Department of Environment and Conservation’s website Our environment – it’s a living thing. Information topics include Recycling, Chemicals, Transport, Water, Energy, Volunteering and more.

Composting and Worm Farming

Instead of throwing out organic material such as food scraps, garden clippings, tea bags, coffee grounds, vacuum dust, soiled paper, cardboard and saw dust, consider composting or worm farming. Both are a great way to make garden fertiliser for gardens and pot plants, while reducing waste that goes to landfill.

Composting systems need to be located on open soil in your garden, preferably in a warm location. Worm farms are particularly suitable for apartments, because they don’t take up much room, and don’t smell. The worms produce castings and liquid fertiliser.

To purchase a compost bin or worm farm please fill in the form above. Compost bins and worm farms are sold by Council and are delivered to residents’ homes.

  • Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre run a series of Eco Garden Workshops. The Eco Garden is a place to learn how to apply organic gardening principles to everyday gardening. This includes composting, worm farming, mulching and low waste organic gardening.

Reuse It

Don’t throw things away – someone else might be able to put it to good service.

  • Consider offering goods to neighbours, friends or family members.
  • Many charities accept clean and presentable goods including furniture and clothing.
  • Second-hand traders will accept goods in a saleable condition.
  • Construction Connect is a website where businesses and individuals can list the reusable goods and materials they no longer need, or they can place a request for those reusable items.
  • E-cycled.com or Freecycle Today are easy ways to get in touch with people in your area who are looking for things you don’t need any more, and that you want.
  • Reverse Garbage, located at the Addison Road Community Centre Marrickville, is a not-for-profit co-operative that sells industrial discards, off-cuts and over-runs to the public for creative and practical uses, reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. For more information visit www.reversegarbage.org.au or contact 9569 3132.

Natural cleaning at home

Many cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm the environment and human health. To green clean your home, just follow these principles:

  • Reduce the use of cleaners, and only buy what you need.
  • Reusable cloths can do the job just as well as disposable cleaning cloths.
  • Read the labels and choose the safest cleaning product available.

To clean your house safely, you only need a few basic products from any supermarket.

  • Bicarbonate of soda – cleans, deodorises and softens water. It’s also a good scouring powder for kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
  • White vinegar – cuts grease, and is a deodoriser and a mild disinfectant. It is great for cleaning windows.
  • Pure soap – a biodegradable general purpose cleaner.
  • Lemon juice – a mild bleach, a deodorant and a cleaning agent.
  • Washing soda – cuts grease and removes stains.

For more information on natural cleaning visit the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Resource Centre.