Recycling This Easter
I cannot believe how fast Easter is approaching! A few years ago my husband and I went camping over Easter and we had the most gorgeous weather. It was freezing at night but during the day we would walk to the beach, grab a pint at the pub and just take in the dazzling force of nature. This year doesn't feel quite the same, the weather is taking longer to warm up and I think everyone is feeling those tighter purse strings. I'm personally really looking forward to having a mouth-watering roast dinner cooked by my in-laws this Sunday and a chance for a small break to relax and recover.
I feel like with all of our big holidays, the waste we produce is often astronomical. I'm sure you'll agree that we don't want to be stressing about our environmental impact over our bank holiday but that doesn't mean we should drop the ball completely. I've compiled several super easy tips to help take the stress away and keep you munching on chocolate for much longer!
Packaging:
I'm not sure I've ever seen an easter egg that comes without packaging unless you're making them at home which would be INCREDIBLE. Most of this packaging will be recyclable in your bins at home, it's always a good idea to check the packaging before you recycle, just in case.
Aside from recycling, try reusing your packaging for something else, like a craft for any children you might have around or save the plastic which holds the egg to use as an egg mould for next year. Get those imaginations working and see what you might be able to come up with!
Most of your eggs will come wrapped in foil. Aluminium foil is ENDLESSLY recyclable and when in large amounts can be recycled in your bin at home. What we do is scrunch even the tiniest of amounts of foil into balls squish them together and then wrap them in a larger piece when we get one. It's so easy to do and won't cost you anything!
Food Waste:
I think that we've gotten too used to the idea of food waste around these times of the year. It's easier said than done, but we need to change our habits. There are many ways to do this, such as only buying what you need, using any leftovers in the next meal (we love a bubble and squeak in our house) or if you're having people over to send them away with a little bundle of food!
If you're like me, you'll always be looking for ways to reduce waste or ways to turn it into something new. One thing I've had my eye on for a long time is a groundbreaking piece of technology called a Lomi. The first time I witnessed the magic of Lomi, I cried! I was in total awe that something so small could do such an incredible thing.
The Lomi is a countertop composting machine. You pop in your food and compostable waste, drop in a pod (which isn't a necessity) and push the button. Overnight the Lomi takes your food scraps and turns them into compost to use in your plants! I dream of having a Lomi but it does come with a hefty price tag of £499, worth it but sad if it's out of reach financially.
If you're interested in knowing more about Lomi, here's the link:
https://uk.lomi.com/products/lomi
Animals:
I'm sure this goes without saying but make sure you're keeping an eye on your animals this Easter. We have our lovely Luna at home and I know she's a terrible pest when it comes to food, we are always super careful about what food she eats and if we're unsure we always check online. Human food isn't dog food for a reason!
Rabbits are understandably a popular animal in the spring, if you've been the recipient of a small child (or adults) cries for a fluffy whiskered-faced friend, then please consider the effort and sustainability of owning one! If you can, consider rescuing one instead of buying new, giving a wonderful animal a second chance!
Ensure that wild rabbits are left to explore their natural habitat as undisturbed as possible. If you plan on having an egg hunt in the garden this year, remember to check that everything has been collected. All rubbish needs to be recycled or put in the bin where it cannot cause harm to any creatures who mistake it for a tasty snack!
Thanks for reading
Hoppy Easter!
Em