Monthly Wrap Up - December 2017

December had some positives and negatives. All in all, not too bad, but the festive season made things more difficult.

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Definitely the festive season! Goon sack, coke can etc.

Monthly Wrap Up - November 2017

A solid month.

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November saw some progress with reduction of waste, and I even got a chance to go on the Walk the Yorke trail for two nights.

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Here is my waste for the month. As usual, mostly electronics and cat food packaging.

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Here's to December.

Monthly Wrap Up - October 2017

October was an improvement on September.

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I tried to make hand soap, which worked well.

Besides this, just more of the usual. The majority of packaging and plastic was from electronics and music gear.

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Monthly trash, as always. 

Monthly Wrap Up - September 2017

September was a mixed bag.

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Even though I generated more waste than in August, I did get a chance to try out dehydrated food extensively by hiking for seven days total throughout this month at Baroota and the KIWT.

Here's my rubbish for this month:

Far too much plastic! Damn.

Monthly Wrap Up - August 2017

Systems are working.

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August was pretty much more of the same as the last few months, as expected - less packaging, more cooking, more making. Measurable progress compared to July, and the least wasteful month of all for this year.

In fact, I would estimate that 75% of plastic was from ordering music gear or electronic components - so that's a good sign.

I've been making most of my own household cleaners from raw materials.

I've been making my own toothpaste, mouthwash, moisturiser, shaving oil and for the first time deodorant - which has worked really well. This was something of a Rubicon crossing for me, beyond toothpaste and shampoo.

I've continued making and using shampoo and conditioner, and have refined the bodywash formula. 

I've enjoyed pickling different items - this has worked well as a flavourful addition to frozen foods. 

I've also put a number of things through the dehydrator. Good snacks for work and on the move, and quick meal preparation. 

I picked up a biodegradable keep cup. 

I've cooked and frozen a total of sixty meals, which should cover all lunches and dinners in September. 

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Waste was minimal this month. No glass, cardboard or tins; not much in the way of aluminium, hard plastics or soft plastics. This is missing one bottle of beer that I had when I was out one night, though.

Cardboard has been burned to ash and composted. Any glass has been re-used in the household. So, as always, this represents waste that is leaving the house.

I would like to reduce this to zero for a whole month sometime this year.

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I think I can realistically make that happen.

Monthly Wrap Up - July 2017

Two steps forward, one and a half steps back.

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I was sick for a fortnight for this cold July. I definitely generated more waste than expected as a result. I did manage to make and use my own shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste and mouthwash.

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Here's the daily garbage for July.

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August will hopefully be more successful.

Monthly Wrap Up - June 2017

By integrating new skills and habits, maybe its possible to carve out a different path. Through personal empowerment comes agency, freedom and responsibility.

I don't feel the need to purchase what I used to need to purchase. I have the choice now, to buy or not, across multiple domains. Food, cleaning, hygiene, entertainment. This list is growing, and it's only starting to click how empowering this can be.

Systems are falling into place, and are working.

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It's been a good month in many respects. I've swapped drinking beer from glass bottles (for the most part) to growlers that are filled by my local brewery.

I've swapped a plastic disposable shaver for a safety shaver.

I love making things, and the more things I am able to make, the better. I've been continuing to experiment with homemade recipes for dishwashing liquid, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser - all quite successfully.

Also: the apple tree in my garden gave a nice harvest!

I've started dehydrating food. Rice, pasta, beans, lentils, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, onion, banana, mandarins, kiwi, grapefruit. Combining various ingredients has made for some excellent reconstituted meals. 

I've also put these meals to the test in the real world, by packing food for hiking. One day's worth of snacks and meals weigh around 500 - 550 g which, although not super light, is not too bad for efficiency. The ability to pre-pack dehydrated, homemade meals is powerful in terms of waste reduction when camping / hiking / busy times, and in terms of control over what goes into the body. 

I managed to find time to go hiking twice - once on Waitpinga Road and also two nights walking the Nukan Kungan trail. Beautiful scenery and short days during winter.

Electricity use for the last quarter is down by 10% compared to the same time last year. 

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In terms of garbage for this month, here's what was collected:

As always, the top row, from left to right, is glass, tins, paper. The bottom row, from left to right, is hard plastic, soft plastic, and miscellaneous.

A bit of a reduction from last month - and a massive reduction since February. This doesn't include a snack pack container and coke bottle that I had in Melbourne earlier in June.

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I have to stop ordering things from the internet. Less things, yes.

Otherwise, a great month overall!