It’s more than Food!

Think beyond leftovers and veg peelings – you may waste more than just food in your kitchen. From FOIL and FOOD WRAPS to PLASTIC BAGS and PACKAGING , here are some tips to cut your non-food kitchen waste.

Kitchen sponge

	Zap it!

Don’t bin your old kitchen sponges. Revive them and kill any lingering bacteria by soaking them and zapping them in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Don’t attempt this with sponges that contain any metal, such as heavy-duty scourers.

On tap

Don’t buy bottled water when you can drink water from your kitchen tap. Use glass bottles or jugs if you prefer your water chilled from the fridge. If you are concerned about water quality in your area, consider investing in a counter-top filter.

Foiled!

There’s no need to use disposable aluminium foil, when there are reusable alternatives. Try silicone baking mats instead of foil sheets. If you do use them, clean aluminium foil wrap and trays can usually be recycled.

Courgette ribbons

Gadget addict

Think before you buy the latest kitchen gadget – do you really need it and will you use it? For example, spiralizers are great fun but your vegetable peeler produces similar results.

Rice

Bulk up!

Buying large quantities of food, such as dry goods like rice and flour that you can store, reduces packaging overall. This works out cheaper so is easy on your pocket and it means fewer shopping trips, saving you time! Look out for shops that specialize in bulk buying, allowing you to bring your own reusable containers to fill with food.

Food cover

It’s a cover up

Avoid clingfilm by making your own reusable cloth covers for jars, plates, and bowls. You can use old cotton shirts or sheets to make these truly zero-waste! Simply cut circles out of the cloth, making sure they are around 5cm (2in) larger in diameter than the items you want to cover. Then gather the edge and stitch in some elastic. Now you’re covered!

In the bag

Ditch wasteful plastic carrier bags and replace them with durable fabric totes. To avoid getting caught short, keep your reusable bags by the door, in the car, or pop a fold-up mini shopping bag in your pocket or handbag.