Cut-the-Rubbish Archives - Exploding Tree | Bean-to-Bar Chocolate & Workshops

Cut-the-Rubbish

Our zero-waste year. In March 2018 I decided to ‘cut-the-rubbish’ for lent. This grew into a year long project where the goal was to produce as little waste (and recyclables) as possible, closing loops and seeking alternatives. The articles below were all published in the West Cork People and the lessons we learned stay with us. We are continually trying to tread as lightly as we can, and discovering so much joy in doing so.

Cut-the-Rubbish

The big weigh-in

I don’t know about you but the last 12 months have flown by! Before I get to the weigh-in I wanted to share the unexpected joys (that took a bit…

Cut-the-Rubbish

Goodbye Plastic Forks.

On the airplane heading back home to Canada for the holidays, and only because in my bag I had a few simple things, travel cups, cutlery and some snacks, we…

Cut-the-Rubbish

Christmas Unwrapped.

I had a great visit this evening from Clodagh Murphy and Alison Moriarty from Sacred Heart Secondary school. They were interviewing me about our ‘cut-the-rubbish‘ project and are working on…

Cut-the-Rubbish

So paper isn’t the solution?

We are now 8 months into our cut-the-rubbish project, so I think it’s time for an inventory. As per my self-imposed guidelines we have kept all our rubbish and recyclables…

Cut-the-Rubbish

Family Matters and Work Waste

I helped organize a Fair & Local Feast during the Taste of West Cork for Fairtrade Clonakilty’s 15th birthday and, as part of that, we made a short film featuring Jennifer…

Cut-the-Rubbish

Taking our waste on the road

August brought a great new zero-waste asset to Clonakilty – the new BYO packaging shop Twig opened in Spillers Lane! You can refill bags, bottles and buy unwrapped, and they…

Cut-the-Rubbish

To refuse, or not to refuse, that is the question…

Author and Zero Waste guru Bea Johnson is a good baseline to relate my struggles and triumphs of this month. Bea has become an international waste reduction hero, having reduced…

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Two steps forward, one step back.

And then two steps forward again. It’s always the way. This month has been a bit tricky, however two things at the very beginning of the month set the tone…

Cut-the-Rubbish

4 months in and the food is great.

I think, like all new projects, the first bit is the hardest and then, all of a sudden, you start to get glimpses of smoother seas. That’s the way it…

Cut-the-Rubbish

Facts, Snacks & Ikea Packs

We’re into month 3 of our major rubbish cut back and have had a few pitfalls this month. Namely online shopping. We needed a new bed for our young boy that can double…