Good Health, Better Life
How to reduce your rubbish once baby arrives
The amount of rubbish generated by a household explodes once you have a baby, but you can minimise your impact on the environment. Try these ways to reduce your family’s waste:
Move your bin
One of the first steps to reducing household waste could be as simple as moving your kitchen bin outside and your recycling containers inside. The concept is simple - it's much easier to put empty Farex packets and formula containers into a recycling bin if it's in front of you, rather than opening the door and walking outside to put them in another, bigger bin.
The greenest nappy
If you've got the time (and want to save money), it’s been discovered that cloth nappies are the greenest option. Researchers at the University of Queensland found that reusable cloth nappies, washed at home in cold water in a front-loading washing machine and line-dried, are the most environmentally-friendly nappy possible.
Eco-friendly disposables
Or try a biodegradable disposable nappy, such as Eenee Eco, a nappy made from completely biodegradable and compostable materials and a zero-waste alternative to regular disposables. Eenee Eco nappies are endorsed by Compost Australia and break down in one compost cycle.
Would you go nappy free?
There are a growing number of Australian mums and dads who are going nappy-free with their babies. Devotees say they track the times when their baby does a poo, or watch for grimacing facial expressions or leg raising, then hold them over the toilet or sink to do the do. Bingo – no nappies needed! (Although number ones are said to be harder to catch.)
Be aware of bio-waste
Nappies and sanitary pads aren’t biodegradable or able to be composted, so just wrap them in paper (no need to add more plastic to landfill) and put them in the rubbish bin. Also remember not to flush plasters or sanitary items down the toilet as, after a storm, they often end up being flushed back out onto our beaches and rivers.
Wipe out baby wipes
Seeing as baby wipes are non-recyclable, make your own re-usable wipes with squares of flannel. Simply cut a piece of flannel fabric into 20cm squares, cutting with pinking shears to prevent fraying. Keep a wet flannel wipe in a zip-lock bag after dropping on some homemade baby wipe solution (made by mixing a cup of water, a tablespoon of baby oil and tablespoon of liquid baby soap). When it comes to cleaning the flannel wipes, just put them in a cloth nappy pail until ready to wash. Then simply machine wash them by themselves in hot water.
Say no to packaging
With the expense of having a baby, takeaway and restaurant meals are often beyond the budget, meaning you’re cooking more at home. That means it’s important to choose non- packaged foods to reduce your use of non-biodegradable plastics. At the greengrocer, buy loose products rather than shrink-wrapped fruit and veggies on trays or plastic boxes. And say no to plastic bags by using a recyclable cotton shopping bag instead.
Consider composting
Anyone can start composting, even if you only have a tiny backyard. You can start a compost heap or buy a compost bin – the only difference is the space it takes up. The finer the material you add to your compost the better, and you can include veggie scraps, grass clippings and small pieces of paper and cardboard (shredded is best). Turn your compost heap over periodically and your old scraps will magically be turned into a wonder mixture for your soil – how good is that?
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