Tell us about any steps, big or small, you've made. Cut down on plastic? Brought sandwiches to work? How easy or hard is it?
Simple and savvy!
One small thing - my partner hates paper tissues and talked me into buying real hankies about 10 years ago (I get organic ones from Organic Ally) so I've not bought paper tissues since then. They're softer than the paper ones and they go in with the normal wash.
Katherine's Waste Diary - Day 4
I feel like Ive failed today. A combination of a busy week, not having time to buy groceries and waking up with a migraine meant that I scrambled my breakfast and lunch together from the Pret-a-manger down the road. Again. (Theyre getting some really good business out of me at the moment.) I picked up a croissant, a cup of coffee, a sandwich and a banana. The banana didnt actually cause any waste problems, mostly because I gave it to Bibi in exchange for an apple, but Im sure the banana skin went into the food waste bin, like my apple core. The paper part of the coffee cup I washed out and recycled, but Im left wondering about the lid. Can I take these to Lush? Im also left with the polythene wrapper from my sandwich and a strange plastic sheet that came around my croissant. Not a good day. Although I did use up some cheese, half an onion and a couple of eggs to make an omelette for dinner. Deliciously simple, and simply delicious.
My window boxes have attracted a certain amount of attention already ...
These two are most certainly interested in the new window boxes. Just stay off the chilli plant, Cato! pic.twitter.com/soOT5TnNas
Peter: OK, why not? I'm joining too. Of course I like to make out I have a rock'n'roll lifestyle but I also cycle everywhere and a new hobby that's got me excited - window boxes. Blimey it'll be bowling greens and knitting next. I've got various herbs growing now and a chilli plant. Anyone like to recommend some salad plants that are easy to grow?
Beautiful day. With new window boxes my plan: to be self-sufficient in herbs and salad inc a chilli plant. Hot stuff! pic.twitter.com/0RLVpGYXrx
Katherine's Waste Diary - Day 3
Today has been a mixed bag in terms of green behaviour. I was at home over the Bank Holiday weekend so clambered up into the loft to root through all my old university junk, retrieving a couple of pieces of tupperware and my old vacuum flask that I used to take everywhere. I filled it with coffee this morning before I left for work - saving money and the environment. Not even a jibe from our Production Editor about "going off to the allotment" could put a dent in my pride. I ate lunch from the canteen off a plate but my two packets of pre-cut fruit (they were on offer) have left me in a bind. Can I recycle these? There are no indications on the packaging.
And here's the coffee flask Katherine's started to bring in to cut down on those pesky plastic coffee cup lids: pic.twitter.com/IF3WspDoRe
Katherine's Waste Diary - Day 2
Keen to avoid the same waste-creating mistakes as yesterday, I took a mug down to the canteen this morning for my morning coffee. No non-recyclable plastic lids here. My mother is in London for the weekend so I met her for lunch near the office, and gladly off-set my waste worries onto the restaurant. Thankfully, the restaurant gave us our food on real plates but I did wonder about our paper napkins can you recycle those after theyve been used?
From energy saving to food waste to reduce, reuse recycle, we don't just want to hear how you're on specific Live Better challenges - tell us about any improvements you've made at home, on your journeys, or at work. Some people have started growing salad, others are bringing sandwiches to work, or you may have simply changed the type of shopping bag you use. It all helps. Tell us what you've done. Whatever you've done, or intend to do, it's also enjoyable to share your achievements and together build up a collective picture.
Bibi: Every year I plead with one of my neighbours to give me his posh discarded wine boxes they make the most beautiful planters. My middle son had a brilliant time knocking holes in the bottom for drainage, and the tomato plants are now in. I worry a little that it may not be deep enough but I've grown lovely tomatoes in fairly shallow boxes before.
Katherine's Waste Diary - Day 1
Most mornings I grab a coffee from the canteen after I arrive at the office and by the end of the week my desk has a fair few coffee cups paper ones with a plastic lid - dotted around it. I always wash these out and pop them in the recycling bin, even though I never really checked to see if the plastic lid was recyclable. After a quick internet search it turns out that the lids are made from polystyrene, which is "not generally recycled in the UK". Drat - that's a lot of recycling bags I've contaminated, and now I have a coffee lid as the first item in my very own "pile of shame".
We've been trying to achieve #zerowaste in the office. Here's what Katherine's amassed since Monday. pic.twitter.com/gDLzC8WgiF
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