How hard it is to be green?!!

I too am careful with the amount of water I use, but that's because I have a water meter. Otherwise I wouldn't see the point of saving the odd litre of water when the water companies waste untold thousands of gallons with their leaky supply pipes.

I used to wash everything that went in my bin, not just recycling but even single use plastic containers because I worried about them attracting insects and being smelly etc. I have now stopped doing that because of water saving and haven't noticed my bin getting smally or more insects, so all is good. We don't have food waste bins in our area so I used to wrap any food waste in a plastic bag before putting in the bin for the same reasons. I've stopped doing that now too and my bin is coping. I now only wrap things that are really smelly like prawn shells or fish bones.

It's a while since I decorated but I think wiping off excess paint on old newspaper before washing brushes and rollers is a great idea to reduce the amount going down the drain. Thanks to whoever said that.

At the end of washing up I leave the water in the bowl and use it to soak empty glass jars to remove the labels and clean them. I then recycle by offering them on freegle for people who make jam or chutney.

I work as a learning support assistant and was interested to note that in technology the students were reminded that designers now have to consider the environmental impact of products at the design stage including the materials used to make things. They are encouraged to make things using recycled materials. I just wish that would extend to packaging in the commercial world!

The amount of water on the planet has not and does not change. Accessibility to clean drinking water is another issue.

Grammaretto; I've still got large ice cream containers that I used to get from a little shop at Trebarwith Strand when we holidayed there in the 1980's. And Walls ice cream containers that must be at least 20 years old. Even Coffee Mate containers are good for holding paint brushes/ screws etc. I just wish milk from a milkman wasn't so expensive; DD always gets hers from a milkman but I'm on too limited a budget.

Elegran he's very good at all things DIY,so he does the cleaning either outside or in the garage..touch wood ,theres been no mess yet and wont be.Though he d clean it up anyway

Used to think wind farms were green until I read this
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49567197?fbclid=IwAR3S1HraHDRFqseZesQ0uH8NzbP_31p7NtG8Pd3-QWqM-V1CyaoRPU7FYT0

Washing the paintwork instead of repainting it?
Clothes washing less often.
Reusing existing buckets. I live opposite a restaurant who throw out dozens of empty plastic mayonnaise buckets with lids. I have found these very useful.
I agree with MOnica. Use less, consume less.
Try anyway.
We in Scotland don't have a lack of water, at least, so I feel no guilt about rinsing empty cans.
Our new community run shop tries to avoid plastic and some customers are very excited. Someone came in yesterday and said we had the only ice cream he had seen in a container with no plastic. The same wee isle dairy sells milk in returnable glass bottles.

I've just received a Scotts of Stow catalogue that has lots of things in it that replace single use plastic. I'd imagine Lakeland do, too, but I haven't been there for a while. All I put in my dustbin is single use plastic; mostly stuff like plastic bags that contained bread etc.

mrsgreenfingers56

I applaud you for getting a water butt, we have several, but all made of plastic, so don’t know if that is very green really.

It's really easy if you're tall and eat corn kernels. ?

I use my washing up water to rinse out recycling bottles. Also just obtained a water butt and a marvellous thing, it saves so much on water for the garden and general chores.

The simplest and cheapest way to be green is to try to reduce how much you use of everything from toothpaste to household goods.

Less toothpaste on your toothbrush, not buying new clothes until your wardrobe would fit in one wardrobe, and only disposing of clothes when they are worn out. Saves you money as well as saving the planet.

4allweknow; thanks; I've made a note of that...

I try to wash out cans etc in water that's already been used and try (!) to recycle cold washing up water onto my balcony plants.

Yes, I wash bottles, tins etc before putting them in the recycling bin, the bin-men won't empty the bin if we don't.

I wash them in the last of the washing up water. We don't have a washing-up machine as I regard them as a threat to the environment, and honestly, how much washing-up do two people and a cat generate?

I don't have a dishwasher so for washing plates dishes etc use a large bowl instead of the sink. This' used' water then goes into a bucket I leave outside the back door ready to soak jam jars, sauce bottles and tins .An overnight soak soon leaves them clean and ready for recycling.

I don't use extra water. All cans and bottles get washed after I've finished washing the dishes. No dishwasher for me only hands and a little fairy liquid.

Similar thing for me. I took my summer duvet to be cleaned so I could put it away till next year. The cost of cleaning was £18. It only cost £18 to buy from Dunelm Mill so I could have bought a new one instead!

When you have used your tins, bottles, jars, don't wash them there and then. Wait until you have a bowl of water from washing up ,then use that to rinse out those items for recycling.

I live in a rented bungalow so cannot change my plumbing. If I could, I would definitely install a grey water system as Hetty suggests. Grey water systems save money and help keep down water consumption.
It makes me mad that effective eco-friendly systems are not standard in this country.

OMG Lock I now know I am not green at all . Well done you and I must think of doing more.

I use the drill (with roller or brush attached) inside an old cardboard box to get rid of excess paint before washing. Lock has good ideas about recycling water, something we should all do. Many pipes from showers and baths can be easily converted to fill storage water butts.

Paddyann That sounds like a quick way of spraying the walls, too! I know someone who thought using an electric drill to stir the paint would be efficient. It wasn't - the clearing-up took some time.

It's not just the gallons of water trisher - but also the paint going down the drains. If the paint is acrylic based then that's plastics going in to the drains - water treatment works aren't designed to remove it so it ends up in drinking water and the ocean.

My husband attaches the roller to an electric drill ..he puts just a little water in a bucket dips the roller in and switches on the drill.It spins round in the water and cleans quickly .Worth a try?