Waste not.... Want not

I shared this picture on Facebook the other day and it’s  got me thinking. 

A few days earlier I had been telling the grandkids about milk bottle recycling and how 50 years ago (sad eh) we used to collect up soft drink bottles and return them to the milkbar to exchange for lollies or drinks. I added that when my brother was in the scouts we used to collect beer bottles etc to raise money.

Then I explained that sadly they did away with that and replaced them with non recyclable plastic bottles and steel cans.

Cringe – we dumped all that packaging for how many years?

I mentioned how 25 years later their mother and her sisters used to crush aluminium cans and get pocket money from the recyclers. 

Their first question was why not recycle when it seems so logical and appealing to cash strapped kids today. I could never understand that decision as an 8 year old myself.

I’m sorry kids but it was people of my parent’s generation who made this ghastly decision and created all this waste and land fill. Here you are when the world has changed so much three generations later asking “WHY???” And here I am 50 years on thinking ...”I told you so.”

I hope we can get the politicians to see sense and bring in a deposit system and that they don’t bow to manufacturers whims or pressure. 

Cringe – we dumped all that packaging for how many years? 

These days we bottle water, drink copious amounts of sugary drinks and handy packaged products. I cringe at amongst other things- the waste in the packaging.

Finally supermarkets have seen some sense in supermarket management and are working towards zero waste policies and therefore lower landfill. Left over food and waste are being responsibly distributed and reduced.

Thermomixers...think of all the butter and buttermilk that’s being made with reduced for quick sale cream and all the tomato paste being whipped up and wizzed in Thermomixes all over the world.

It’s not all about bottles but packaging and excess waste amongst less than perfect vegetables etc is also a big factor.

Messages go around Facebook promoting waste wise strategies- make butter and buttermilk from reduced cream.

Groups like Food Fairness Illawarra are promoting lower waste policies and feeding those with low food security. I love my Thermomix and all my Thermomix Facebook friends on sites such as THERMOMIX TM5  Hints tips and recipes,Skinnymixers, Cooking with Tenina, Thermomumma-Lailah Rose. We are a powerful force of thinking men and women and children. 

Let’s hope our “ littlest” Thermomixers who are learning so much more about healthy habits, reducing waste and sustainability will be our future leaders in sustainable and responsible resource use. I think there is hope for the future.

5 ways Thermomixers can save waste or recycle:

1. Make chutneys, stocks and sauces from less than perfect and aging vegetables. Reuse your glass jars and bottles.
2. Make your own smoothies and coffee- refill your own container.
3. Buy in bulk and reduce packaging.
4. Make your own lunchbox treats to reduce snack pack purchases and waste.
5. Refill bottles with water rather than purchase. Make your own juices and cordials from local or homegrown produce.