Isn’t that what all the life coaches and goal setters tell us? Progress not perfection. Well, Tuesday, in terms of progress on my battle with plastic, was a good day. I thought I’d share it with you because, while my choices may well not be your choices, things finally started to click into place.

I’ve been paying attention to what we throw out for weeks now. Waste in general and plastic in particular because we produce a lot of it in our house. The aim being to start weaning ourselves off buying things in plastic and cutting down on the plastic wrapped stuff that I can’t avoid and finding alternatives.

Tuesday – that’s ‘bin day’ in our street. Recycling boxes sorted and out for collection every week with the food waste bin and wheelie bin out every other week.

Hubby: ” Are you sure its wheelie bin day?”

Me: “Yep (trying hard not to point out that all the neighbours already have their bins on the kerbside). Why?”

Hubby: “Coz there is only one bag in it……”

Me: small victory dance…………

We have been putting out (always) two bags (sometimes) three forever. Just one bag………. that’s a success in my book.

That is mainly down to collecting the plastic trays and yogurt pots that we would normally put in our kitchen bin (mixed waste going to landfill) and taking them to the local recycling site instead. But I also have a small collection going on for crisp packets and plastic lids that can be recycled through local schemes.

But the day got better……………

It was the first day I took my empty bottle of laundry liquid and my empty bottle of washing up liquid to the local health food shop to refill them. That is two less plastic bottles I would have put out for recycling.

Since I was in town already I also bought loose veg from the green grocer which meant I avoided all plastic bags and pre-wrapped veg. The veg shop uses paper bags for keeping multiple things together and I have some mesh bags for things like potatoes and carrots we buy a lot of.

Tuesday was a good day. Baby steps. But definitely progress.

How are you getting along with your waste challenges?