4 Mindset Shifts for Recycling Week

4 Mindset Shifts for Recycling Week

We have a lot of content to help your materials end up in the right bin, and this is important, but this recycling week we wanted to talk about how we think about waste and things to consider when making purchases.

These ideas aren’t one size fits all; everyone has different access levels to time, money and resources.

1. Buy products that last, from companies that talk about their repair process

How long do you expect big purchases to last, especially if they are more expensive than their counterparts?

Lifecycle design is an important part of a circular economy, this is all about making sure that the products are designed to last, are repairable and don’t require excessive resources to maintain. Ultimately, making sure that the materials that are used to create the product have a long useful life and don’t need replacing.

Blunt Umbrellas are a great example of this, their umbrellas are designed to blow inside out with large gusts of wind (inevitable in Wellington) without damaging the structure. They come with an extended warranty and a comprehensive repair program - even if it's out of warranty.

By prioritizing longevity and repairability, we can reduce waste and support businesses that share our values.

2. Prioritise minimal packaging

In the supermarket, we’re faced with numerous options, differing on price, quality, brand, sustainability and more. We are often using quick mental models to make these decisions and due to increased consumer demand for more sustainable options businesses are leaning on ‘perceived sustainability’. For example, this research article shows that participants often believed that plastic packaging with paper integrated was seen as more environmentally friendly than its only plastic counterpart. This is leaning on the perception that paper is natural and therefore more sustainable, particularly when there is such a focus on reducing plastic.

No simple heuristic, or ‘rule of thumb’ is going to be foolproof in picking packaging that is more environmentally friendly, but we encourage you to use the thought of minimal packaging. Another helpful tool in the moment is to look for the Australasian Recycling Label as this will tell you how the packaging should be disposed of.

3. Create a food system that minimises waste

Food waste is a global problem, in Australia, 7.6 Million Tonnes of food is wasted every year, with household waste contributing 30% of this. The impact of this waste isn’t small, contributing 3% of Australia's carbon emissions annually and a whopping 2,600 gigalitres (5x the water in the Sydney Harbour!) is used to grow the food that is wasted.

These are scary numbers, but a few small changes in your fridge and pantry can make a big difference – that can save wasted food and your annual grocery bill up to $2,500 annually. Here are some common issues and ideas to help, pick one and work on it!

1. Over-purchasing
   1. Check your cupboards before you go to the supermarket.
   2. Avoid the depths of your cupboards where things can go missing - use lazy susans or shelf risers so you can see the cans at the back of your cupboard. Here is a DIY tiered storage for your cans or spices that you can make to the perfect dimensions with just some wood and nails. Read the full instructions from Ana White here.

c. Write a list of what you need and avoid the ‘bargin’ fallacy - if it is on special but you have no plans for it, throwing it away will cost you more.

2. It goes off before you eat it

a. Learn about how to store food to maximise its shelf life.
i. Learn the difference between best-before and use-by dates - Use-by dates are about safety while best-before dates are about quality - you might be throwing away edible food.

b. Have a use-first section so that the things people need to use first are front and centre, if you live in a shared house make this a shared space to help use up food.

c. For example, did you know apples, tomatoes, potatoes and more produce ethylene gas that can cause other fruits and veggies to go off faster? It’s best to store these separately, learn more here.

There are so many more ideas, tips and tricks here are some good sources for information - Love Food Hate Waste, End Food Waste Australia - The Great Unwaste, or Sustainability Vic.

4. Borrow or hire before you buy

Before you buy a new piece of equipment that you won't use regularly, consider renting or borrowing. Often, equipment can end up cluttering our houses or sheds and collecting dust for the few times a year that we need them. But it’s easier than ever to rent the equipment you need, and often you can get a better quality and more efficient item similar on the rental market or borrowing from neighbours. Better yet, there are community spaces where you can rent out the equipment you do buy. Don’t limit yourself to power tools either, you can find high-spec cameras, microphones, sports equipment and more.

Big Little Shed is a new platform for renting and sharing equipment across Aotearoa, they are just starting out, but if you have some tools that could be better utilised, head over and list them here - https://littlebigshed.co.nz/.

This shift in mindset not only conserves resources but also fosters community connections.

We hope something here inspired you to make a small change that can have a big impact. Especially as we head into the gifting part of the year, it’s a good time to consider how you make purchases for yourself and others. Together, we can create a more sustainable future, where waste is minimized, resources are conserved, and our communities thrive.