September 2026
Sandy says….
Waste not, want not
I abhor waste!
My mum grew up during the Second World War and instilled that in me. Make do and mend, save fuel, and you certainly don’t waste food! How did we get to be such a throw-away society? The 1960s saw a huge change in attitudes - advertising told people they must have all the latest fads and fashions, and it didn’t matter if it didn’t last - throw it away and get another, newer, better version.
Now the clock is turning full circle. Zero Waste Week happens every September, and it’s just one of many campaigns encouraging us to be careful with what we use. That campaign shares some startling statistics on their website. By 2050, there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish. The UK uses 7 million disposable coffee cups every day. 177 species of reptiles, mammals and fish are at risk as a result of consuming plastic litter at sea.
The Zero Waste campaign asks us to have a goal to make one change for the week. I am planning to avoid the extra packaging - my apples don't need a plastic bag! Of course, one week doesn't seem like a challenge, but the organisers hope we will all make a long-term change. After all, when we throw things away, where do they go? Out of sight is out of mind, until you have to think about the landfill spaces or the plastic in the oceans. In fact, if Henry VIll had used disposable nappies they would still be in landfill!
So the small stuff really does add up. Zero Waste Week began in the UK in 2008 with 100 participants. Today, millions of people in over 85 countries, join in with Zero Waste Week. All those small efforts really do make a difference.
Zero Waste Week is 7th to 11th September. My mum would approve.