'Waste' pledges... and why?
As we start eating, drinking, and shopping on the go more with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, it's a good time to think about how we can cut back on waste. Not only to reduce the amount of waste generated in Basildon, but also reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation, use and disposal of the things we buy and sell.
Make a pledge to compost your food waste - Each family throws out around 3kg of avoidable food waste each week, equivalent to 23.3kg of carbon emissions.
Make a pledge to freeze food before it goes bad - 12% of greenhouse gas emissions come from wasted food.
Make a pledge to use reusable shopping bags - Popping to the shops? One single-use plastic bag can take 1,000 years to decompose.
Make a pledge to visit a charity shop - Donating used goods and buying second hand will help your wallet as well as the environment
Make a pledge to invest in a reusable, refillable water bottles - Kick the bottled water habit to reduce single-use plastic
Makes pledge to say no to single use items and plastic packaging - Plastic pollution has lasting impacts on the environment, and we all have a role to play in cutting back on plastic.
Make a pledge to care for and repair items instead of throwing them away - Recycling is great, but to have the biggest effect on reducing waste, we need to cut down on the amount of stuff we buy and maintain and repair the things that still have plenty of life left in them.
Make a pledge to go meat free once a week - Meat has a big impact on the climate. It's estimated that animal products are responsible for about 13% of global greenhouse gases (that's half of all the emissions caused by the food we eat).
Make a pledge to cut back on dairy products - For the same reasons as meat, dairy impacts on our climate. Fortunately, there are now many alternatives to milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products.
Make a pledge to freeze food before it goes bad and meal plan - 36% of black bin waste is food waste.