Easter is upon us yet again, somewhat early this year. Millions of us will be celebrating Easter this weekend by munching our way through a chocolate egg or two. How many of us, however, have ever stopped to think about the extra waste that we are thus creating?
An estimated 10,000 metric tons – let me write this in words: ten thousand tons – of packaging will be thrown away over Easter in Britain. This is the equivalent weight of 1,500 London buses.
The Warwickshire-based Charity “Garden Organic” is urging people to think twice before heading to the bin and throw Easter egg packaging on the compost heap instead.
We are here talking, obviously, only about the cardboard and paper, and especially if it is not glossy stuff and such. The plastic and foil do not have any place on your compost heap or in your composter. You have got one, haven't you. A composter or compost heap?
This advice is, I know, only good for those that actually live in a place where we do have a garden or have an allotment. Not much good to those that live in apartment complexes and such like.
The Waste & Resources Action Plan (WRAP), said retailers are taking big steps to reduce the amount of packaging used for Easter eggs, but consumers can still do their bit.
The problem now is not the retailers, in my view, when it comes to packaging of Easter eggs (and general packaging), but the manufacturers and somewhere along the line we must get them on board to actually do something about the mount of packaging waste. While we are, I know, talking here about the packaging waste generated by Easter eggs, I would like to share a little example and that is the way – the wasteful and stupid way – that, for instance, the replacement heads for the Braun electric toothbrush are sold. There are two in a pack, bot individually packed in their own little blister packs, who are then, together, put into another blister pack of the kind that you need a chainsaw to get into in order to get the brushes out. I am sure that, after they are blister packed individually, they would nicely fit into a recycled recyclable cardboard box – if need be with a little cellophane window – that could equally well be hung onto the display stands.
Helen Hughes, who advises retailers and brands on packaging minimisation and recycling, told the media: "The work the brands and retailers are doing in terms of their Easter egg packaging is a great step forward in significantly reducing the amount of packaging material sent to landfill and helping to tackle climate change.
"Consumers want to see a reduction in the amount of packaging on their Easter eggs while still wanting a gifting experience, so it's great to see that the brands and retailers are responding to them.
"As well as buying Easter eggs with reduced packaging, I'd also encourage everyone to recycle their Easter packaging wherever possible."
For more information and advice on composting, visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk
To check where you can recycle Easter packaging waste in your local area, visit www.recyclenow.com
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), March 2008
Reduce the Easter Egg Waste
