| Firstly - paper waste. We all know about recycling | | | | break down thus reducing the transplant stress on |
| paper and newspapers/magazines. But what we all | | | | your precious seedlings. |
| should be doing is using recycled products as well. | | | | Donate your used mags to kindy or your local doctor's |
| Recycled toilet paper is a big one! But it also has to be | | | | office - you'll be grateful for something |
| unbleached. Did you know the deadly dioxins caused | | | | more-up-to-date to read when you next have to pay |
| by chlorine-bleaching paper products causes untold | | | | them a visit! |
| damage to marine creatures and pollution in our | | | | You can shred your newspaper and use it as a dry |
| waterways? These dioxins leach into the food chain | | | | filling for your compost heap. Put it in a corner of the |
| through marine animals that we eat, eventually | | | | garden, add some grass, some chook poo or |
| reaching our babies through the breastmilk in nursing | | | | mushroom compost and let it break down over time. |
| Mums. Make sure your toilet paper is unfragranced. | | | | Use some of this as a dry filler for your vege compost |
| The chemicals used in artificial fragrances can be | | | | or worm farm if you have one. |
| severely damaging to your health and may trigger | | | | Don't buy too much pre-packaged food or prepared |
| allergies in those who are susceptible such as young | | | | meals. Just think about how your Mums would have |
| children and babies or those who have a family history | | | | coped in the 70s in the days before Chicken Tonight |
| of allergies or asthma. | | | | and Patak's Simmer Sauces! They made everything |
| If you have a baby in nappies, if you use disposables, | | | | from scratch! Rediscover the art of family meals by |
| try to use environmentally-friendly brands that don't | | | | making your own sauces. Wonderful spag bol can be |
| use chlorine-bleaching or contain filling material that is | | | | made with just a couple of cans of tomatoes, some |
| biodegradable. Dioxin poisoning from chlorine-bleaching | | | | basil, garlic, chopped onion and tomato paste! You'll |
| of paper products is of particular concern if you have | | | | save money and help reduce the amount of |
| young children. Better still, use cloth nappies with | | | | packaging that goes into landfill. |
| biodegradable nappy liners. Dispose of disposable | | | | Don't buy pre-packed biscuits and snacks for the kids' |
| nappies in biodegradable nappy bags or even cheap | | | | lunchbox! Make your own delicious, simple, nutritious |
| Homebrand paper bags! | | | | morning teas like muffins, grated apple pikelets, apricot |
| Re-use your plastic shopping bags as bin liners or | | | | slices etc... Not everyone has time during the week to |
| better still, use those enviro-bags sold in almost every | | | | cook - just one hour on the weekend to make some |
| store these days! If you must buy bin bags, make sure | | | | muffins which can be individually wrapped in |
| they're biodegradable and unfragranced. | | | | Glad-Wrap for the following week will mean your kids |
| If you have a child at kindy or pre-school, save those | | | | can grab one straight from the freezer and you'll feel |
| yoghurt containers and other plastic pots in a box | | | | good knowing they are free from preservatives and |
| which you can drop off at kindy every week. The | | | | colours and higher in fibre, with less sugar. |
| teachers will love you for it! | | | | So as you can see, reducing your household waste is |
| Egg cartons can be used as seedling pots which can | | | | easy! |
| then be planted straight into the garden where they will | | | | |