Zero Waste Week Challenge

26th July - 1st August, 2009

>> Key Resources

>> Household Goals

>> Specific Alternatives

>> Recipes - 'Make your own'

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Key Resources

city ... west ... north ... south ... east

For other bulk food stores and organic groceries :
http://www.organicchoice.com.au/directory.php

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Household Goals

Nick & Janet's
We've been monitoring our garbage for some time and though we've got our waste bin down to a small bag each fortnight, we'd really like to avoid the stuff that ends up in it. These are things like plastic wrap from pasta, gluten-free flour, crackers, cheese, coffee & snacks. Also we'd like to reduce recycleables where possible - specifcally baked-beans tins & peanut butter. Blog

Shaun & Neesh's
Looking to eliminate toothpaste packaging.
Also experimenting with new approaches to human waste. (Why would you just flush it away?)

Cara & Scott's
Soy milk is a major item for the week resulting in lots of packaging. Hoping to reduce this.

Hugh's
My biggest package item is tofu and muesli bars. I plan to make my own muesli bars and by my tofu in larger amounts to cut down on packaging. I’m thinking of avoiding tofu all together this week and make my own ‘mock’ meat from gluten flour.

Alicia & Emma's
We did really want to give it a go, despite being a bit under prepared. We have been a constant one-supermarket bag of rubbish per week and twenty centres worth of recycling. We gain some because Em brings home recylcing from St V's because they don't recycle very much at all and we loose some because I take 4, 5, 6, and 7s (which Moreland hasn't until recently recycled) to work or Em gives them to a Brimbank colleague of hers to recycle. Our recycling is largely paper (between 1 and 1 1/2 kilos a week) so I think we could cut down on that and definately try using no bin liner. We are right with organic waste and really have minimally packaging because we bulk buy but I think we need to address milk and sweet treats this week (chocolate and lollies always bump up our packaging).

Monica's
See her comments.

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Specific Alternatives

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Recipes - 'Make your own'

Soy Milk
http://www.soya.be/how-to-make-soy-milk.php

Sour Dough Bread
http://sourdough.com

Toothpaste

First recipe:
1.Mix three parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with one part table salt (sodium chloride).
2.Add three teaspoons of glycerine for every 1/4 cup of dry mixture.
3.Add enough water to make a thick paste. If desired, a few drops of peppermint oil may be added to improve the taste.
4.Apply and use just as you would any other toothpaste. Store unused toothpaste at room temperature in a covered container.

Second recipe:
Thoroughly mix 3 parts baking soda (the cleanser and sweetener) with part salt (the abrasive) and funnel the compound into a short small-mouthed container such as a pop or beer bottle. You'll find that the creation has a satisfying, different taste and leaves your mouth feeling very fresh and soothed. If you'd like, add a few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil to the concoction - or mix the home "brew" half-and-half with a commercial tooth powder - to give the dentifrice a more pleasant flavor. 

Third recipe:
This formula is simply an extension of the tooth powder recipe: To each half cup of homemade powder, add 3 teaspoons of glycerin, 10-20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, cinnamon or whatever) and 1 drop of food coloring. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and add just enough water to make the concoction "tooth-pastey". Spoon the substance into a small refillable plastic squeeze bottle or any container that dispenses easily and won't leak. VoilÁ! Toothpaste!

Baked Beans
black beans, white beans, any beans - soak 12 cups over night
olive oil in pan; beans into hot pan; diced onion, clove garlic, stick diced carrot, stick diced celery, thyme fresh string, bay leaves, (no salt at start), 500 mls stock; 500 mls tomaotes (tin or bottle). Simmer 1.5 - 2 hrs, till bean skins tender. Add a splash of vinegar, crumbed fetta , freah mint, fresh parsly over top as desired.

Wheat-free flour mix
400g besan (chickpea); 400g maise (corn); 200g potato flour; 200g polenta (tellow maize) flour

Wheat-free mix for pastry & bread
400g besan; 400g potate flr/starch; 200g rice flr; 200g arrowroot or tapioca starch

Jonathon & Jane's Rippa Muesli Recipe

Ingredients
400g rolled oats
90g (1/4 cup) honey
40g wheat germ
125g rice bran
100g dry roasted almonds
30g sunflower seeds
40g pumpkin seeds
15g flax seeds
125g dried chopped apricots
125g sultanas
1tsp ground cinnamon
Grated zest from 1 orange
1tsp vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Place the rolled oats onto a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper. Toast in the oven until golden, mixing it a few times while toasting to ensure even browning.
Remove the oats from the oven and pour into a large bowl. Stir through the honey and then let cool completely until crisp. Mix through all the remaining ingredients and then store in an airtight container until needed.
Serve with yoghurt and fresh fruit.

Notes: Seeds can be replaced with whatever seeds you might have available at the time and that are similar. Same applies for the rice bran and wheat germ. Try a few different items to suit taste and/or dietary needs.

How to Make a Reusable Sandwich Wrap
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/43227/how-to-make-a-reusable-sandwich-wrap

Baking Soda as Deodorant
http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/04/homemade-deodorant-just-use-baking-soda.html

Vinegar as Hair Conditioner
http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/01/vinegar-rinse-is-awesome.html

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