Waste not, want not – use your waste wisely

If you are the recycling type and embrace the orange plastic bags for plastic and paper, the transparent bags for tins and glass and are always looking at ways of reducing waste – there are out of the box waste recycling hacks you can use to do your bit to save the Earth, whilst reaping the benefits.

The team at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is constantly looking for ways to reduce, reuse & recycle their litter. Culinary Artists, Kirstie Du Toit and Wayland Green noticed that there was a large amount of waste that was being removed to the local municipality dump. “We decided to find innovative ways to re-use some of this waste we as an establishment were creating, and found that items such as egg shells, raw food left overs, leaves and egg boxes could be recycled,” Kirstie Du Toit said.

Egg Shells: used for inclusion in a compost patch

Raw food left overs: raw carrots, cabbage, lettuce, onion layers, potato peels etc which are leftover from preparation of food in the kitchen and can be used in a compost patch.

Leaves: fallen leaves in the winter months can also be added to the compost patch.

All of these waste materials provide nutrient rich compost to add to new plants once they are imbedded into the soil.

Apart from the raw materials used for the compost patch, Robson also uses a variety of other items, which would usually be thrown away.

Egg trays, dried out used teabags and old wax from left over candles: can be used as fire lighters. Old egg cartons can be filled halfway with sawdust or the used, dried teabags and then filled to the brim with wax. Leave to cool and then cut and separate.

Old magazines: these can be soaked in water, pulped and turned into blocks to be utilized for the fireplaces instead of wood.

For avid recyclers who appreciate the Earth,  recycling is a must and can become a hobby for those who make the most of it.

Let’s face it, recycling starts with every individual, so take care of our Earth by adopting some recycling habits and make the most of the rest of the year.