My 9 Ways To Save On Waste

As a rural food producer we are made scarily aware of waste miles, costs and disposal.

Rural dwellers here are not part of the verge pick up system.  This means that we need to deliver our own rubbish to the tip and then put it into the right spot;  be that landfill, recycling, green waste or metal.  Also the Shire (always feels like The Hobbit when I say that) tip charges us for our land fill.  This really focuses our attention on our waste.  Here are my ways to save on rubbish:
​1. If there is any food waste it goes to worms or animals.  We have a separate bin for food scraps.
​2. Don't bring home plastic.  Always choose paper/cardboard or loose items.
3. Shop once a month.  This is maybe more possible for us as we grow a lot.  But shopping once a month really saves money, time and waste.
4. Use bicarb in a box as deodorant.  We've been doing this for years now and have had no complaints about BO.  (Unless people are too polite to tell us?!).  I blend mine with BushBlossom Balms (sorry about the shameless self promotion) to stick it on better.
5. Buy loose leaf tea or dry my own - as per the mint here.  Now that I've heard tea bags contain plastic I'm going to say goodbye to teabags...and Pukka Tea (that's going to be hard).
6. Bake our own sourdough bread.  This saves on plastic bags and those annoying plastic ties.
7. Turn all cardboard and paper into mulch.  It doesn't look like much but it does the job.  
8. Take my own stuff - keeper cups, water bottles, tupperware, cutlery, shopping bags are always in car when I head out. (Unless I forget them, and then I have to do without tasty treats!) .
9. Keep a tidy house - remember everything I bring home is more clutter.