UK family cuts their waste to just one binful a year

Simon de Bruxelles, Times Online 31 Dec 09;

Like most families, the Strausses have a bin full of rubbish awaiting collection after the festive season. The difference in their case is that it contains all the refuse they have generated in an entire year.

Last new year, Rachelle and Richard Strauss and their eight-year-old daughter Verona made a resolution to recycle as much as possible. By making sure that they buy only products with recyclable packaging, using their own containers when shopping and re-using as much as possible, they have cut their waste to less than 100g (3.5oz) a week.

Most of the waste in the bin consists of empty packets from Verona’s favourite crisps. But even here they have been able to cut down on what they throw away.

Mrs Strauss said: “The shiny silver packets can’t be recycled at present, but what Verona does is buy one big bag of crisps a week, and keep them in an airtight container.” The family’s challenge has led to a successful website www.myzerowaste.com, where readers suggest green ways of disposing of items such as toilet seats, or uses for the dregs of a jar of pesto sauce that does not involve landfill.

The couple, from Longhope, near Gloucester, decided on the challenge after watching a television programme about the danger to wildlife from discarded plastic packaging. Mrs Strauss said: “I started off taking reusable bags when I went shopping, and it just grew from there.

“Most people feel helpless and somewhat disempowered when it comes to helping the environment, but our message is that if everyone in Britain recycled just one can a year, that would still be 60 million fewer cans going into landfill, so it is possible for individuals to make a difference.”

The refuse-free lifestyle begins with making the right choices at the check-out. The family try to avoid buying products that do not come in recyclable packaging. Fruit and vegetables are home-grown or bought loose. Even their choice of shampoo is dictated by the packaging. Clothes come from charity shops and all food left-overs are either eaten or composted.

When an environmentally friendly alternative is not available, they do something about it.

“I could just not buy it. But I would be just one, and there are millions who do, so I will return packaging to the manufacturer with a letter explaining my reasons,” said Mrs Strauss.

“I have also discovered that many stores have access to recycling facilities not available to the public.

“I discovered this when I bought a lampshade that came wrapped in plastic that the recycling facility wouldn’t take. The assistant said they could have it recycled, so I was able to leave it in the shop.”

Even yoghurt pots that are not normally recyclable are sent to a specialist plant. Finding a way to dispose of toothpaste tubes was the subject of lively discussion on their blog. Mrs Strauss then found a company that sold toothpaste in a recyclable aluminium container.

The environmentally friendly lifestyle even extends to lighting and heating their home. Mr Strauss, 53, a water engineer, installed LED lighting powered by a solar panel. They use a wood burner to heat both the house and their hot water, with an immersion heater for summer.

After a year of virtually waste-free living, the family are looking forward to this year’s resolution: to throw away nothing at all in the next 12 months. Mrs Strauss said: “It won’t be easy but I am sure we can do it.”

The family’s under-employed metal dustbin is due to be emptied for the first time in a year on January 13, before it is itself recycled. Mrs Strauss said: “We will be sure to give it a proper send-off.”