My old fan is not working. What to do? What are my choices?
Also, I haven’t had a chance to contact Gillette yet but I will (see previous post).

over&over
wm

Imagine if you could send the empty blade cartridge back to the manufacturer so they could re-use it. Imagine if the package you purchased the product in, doubled up as the return package envelope.
I was thinking about this recently when I pried the last blade from the cartridge. “Do I just throw this cartridge away? “, I thought to myself. “After all it’s perfectly perfect and could so easily be re-used”. I wonder how many other consumables fall into this category?
Perhaps I’ll give Gillette a call. Can you imagine. They’re going to think I’m nuts…and I’m not!
over&over
wm

A couple of quick points/questions regarding my Barnes honey jar…

Firstly, do I purchase my honey in a plastic (PET) jar as above, or in glass? From a consumers point of view, standing in the supermarket isle, which product is better for the environment? How do I make this choice? Does anybody know?
…and secondly, when we go to throw the jar away the natural inclination is to screw the top on before disposal. Surely this must make it about a million times harder for the recycling companies? I’ll find out but I’d bet that the recycling companies want us to remove the lids AND rinse the jar! How many of us do that?

over&over
wm

This is a plastic ‘chupa chup’ container sitting on the counter of a small coffee shop (apologies for the out of focus shot).
Can someone please explain why this container has a ‘recycle’ logo.
It’s a concern of mine that these days manufacturers print the recycle logo on anything. And for what purpose? For who’s benefit?
I continue to campaign for messages on packaging that provide  consumers with real and detailed information with regard to what can be done with the product once it is no longer required. Just sticking a ‘recycle’ logo on everything doesn’t really tell me anything.
What’s the container made of? Which bin can I place it in? Can I return it to the manufacturer? etc etc.
Packaging is always covered in the messages that help to make the products more appealing, and I guess that’s fair enough.  Information as to what can be done with the package after use is very important but it never seems to get much more than a token gesture.
Occasionally I see some good environmental messages on packaging. I’ll be sure to post it on this site when I find some.
over&over
wm

Does your home have one of theses? A toxic cupboard. What to do? How do we dispose of this horrible stuff safely and kindly? How did so many nasties make their way into the home in the first place? So many questions…

Well, instead of opening up the lid of the green wheelie bin and simply tossing it all away (always a tempting option), there is somewhere you can go. It’s an initiative by sustainability victoria and it’s called ‘detox your home’.

Here is a link. DETOX YOUR HOME

I’ll be calling them soon and making my own enquiries. Hopefully it’s all working a little better than the paint back scheme I was discussing earlier. If you like I’ll fill you all in. Stay tuned!

wasteman

I made it to the waste transfer station (port Phillip council). They do have a place to drop off used paint. The blue steel bin above is filled to the brim almost every day. It gets picked up by a company called chemsal who specialize in hazardous waste recycling. I was told that the old paint can be used as an additive in concrete manufacture. I’ll look into this and report back later - sounds interesting and feasible!

…And just to change the topic for a moment…summer must be getting closer…

Not so long ago, we would have tipped our old paint (and other toxic nasties) down the nearest drain. Thank heavens we’ve progressed a little since then - or have we?
Now we have an opportunity to take it all to a place called a transfer station (usually run by the local council) and let them deal with it. I’m sure they’ll have a way of making it all disappear!

Well, tomorrow morning I’m off to the transfer station with a boot load of old paint (I’ve started the process of moving home). I can’t wait to hear how they intend to deal with my old paint. And I will report back shortly…
Stay tuned…
P.S

If there’s one thing I’m learning as I begin to deal with moving house, it’s that we have to be very careful when deciding what we bring into our homes in the first place. That is the golden rule!