This Plastic Free July, follow these tips to reduce your waste
It’s Plastic Free July, a global movement to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste and work towards cleaner communities, environments and oceans.
The United Nations estimates 19-23 million tonnes of plastic leaks into waterways each year. This alters habitats, reduces ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change and negatively impacts social wellbeing.
Here are some simple tips you can follow, and some things Deakin is doing, to reduce wastage.
Over the month, the Deakin Enviro Club, a DUSA club dedicated to environmentalism, will also be sharing tips and tricks for reducing plastic usage across their social media.
Tips to avoid plastic waste
Think before you buy …
Taking a moment to think about the things we consume can stop waste at its source.
- Avoid buying brand-new clothes by repairing items or purchasing second-hand items.
- Ask cafes if they have a reusable bowl or cup for your lunch or coffee.
- Avoid food waste by sticking to a meal plan and shopping list.
… or throw things away
While it may feel like the default option, often there are alternatives to the landfill bin. Next time you go to throw something into the bin, consider the alternatives.
If the item can’t be repaired, repurposed or used elsewhere, take the time to find out whether it’s recyclable.
Which bin to put it in?
Knowing what things and types of plastic go into which bin can be a lot to keep track of. Placing the wrong items in the wrong bin contaminates the contents, sending recycling and compost to landfill.
So, here are some tips for a few items that cause the most confusion:
- Coffee cups – only the lid is recyclable, the cup goes in the landfill bin. Choose a reusable cup to avoid the bins altogether!
- Food containers go in the landfill bin, even if they claim to be compostable. The infrastructure isn’t in place to compost these items commercially, as they are lined with a product that can only be broken down in certain environments. Some of our cafes have dine in options – ask for these instead.
- Paper towel goes in the green organics bin.
- Soft plastics (glad wrap, plastic wrappers, bags etc.) belong in the landfill bin. Or even better, look to avoid these items wherever possible.
If you’re ever confused about where a certain item goes, Deakin has an A-Z Waste List that can help you understand more.
Deakin’s waste reduction actions
Sustainability is one of the core Deakin values which we incorporate in everything we do, and the University is taking many measures to make our campuses climate ready.
We are finding new strategies and opportunities to improve our operations and processes to produce less landfill waste, just some of which are:
- repairing, refurbishing and reusing furniture across campus and, only when they are no longer usable, sending them to a certified furniture recycler.
- paving the way for a more sustainable future with Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Material‘s research into the sources and pathways of microplastics
- the Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub in the Geelong Future Economy Precinct, working with governments and education partners to advance Australia’s capacity in battery technology, hydrogen storage and use, and organic and inorganic waste conversion to high value products.
So, follow these tips and think about what other small everyday changes you can make to reduce your plastic consumption and pollution.