Easter Tips
Contents |
[edit] Easter Egg Packaging Waste
Last year, more than 8,000 tonnes of waste were generated just from Easter egg packaging and cards alone – extra waste local councils have to deal with.
Approximately 80 million chocolate eggs are sold in the UK at Easter which generates around 4,370 tonnes of card and 160 tonnes of foil waste. Oxfam reports that an average 200g chocolate egg comes with 54g of card and 2g of foil. Also, about 16 million cards are sent and received.
Cadburys Easter egg boxes, for example, carry the ‘recycle’ logo on their outer cardboard box packaging; and the foil that covers the egg can sometimes be recycled – but what about the moulded inner plastic container for the chocolate egg? It’s not easy to find out whether such plastic packaging is recyclable (unless you open the cardboard box; and the type of plastic used varies from manufacturer to manufacturer). Some gug visitors have pointed out that even Fairtrade and organic egg producers seem to use ‘too much’, or non-recyclable packaging for their eggs.
Green & Black’s says only the cardboard part of their organic chocolate egg packaging is recyclable, too, this year. However, their spokeswoman says they are very aware of the situation and are actively looking at ways to deal with this – which is a step in the right direction.
mini eggs Packets of ‘mini eggs’ often have less packaging. For example try the Divine mini eggs.
[edit] Out in the Garden
Easter is often also the time when people’s thoughts turn to getting out into the garden. Homebase, the UK’s second largest DIY store reported an increase of 80 per cent in customer numbers over the previous Easter bank holiday, with gardening equipment being among the top items sold. This results in an increase in garden waste; and more pressure on local council recycling centres.
This could be the time to think again about home composting, if you have the space to do this. Last April George Pilkington gave grownupgreen the lowdown on the composting process .
[edit] Eat Seasonal
For Spring, Veg-Box Recipes have an idea for a special salad, now that fennel and watercress are readily available and the freshest, juiciest oranges are being shipped in from the Med.
[edit] Spring Clean
It’s the traditional time of year to clear out unwanted items and; perhaps children can help you with this, during the Easter school holidays. If you need to find a new home for large or bulky household items that still have plenty of useful life left you can advertise them on ‘Rag & Bone’ and give them away for free to others who can make good use of them. Additionally, those who can give a good new home to these items get them free-of-charge, simply by collecting them from the original owners.
