Are you getting ready for the #ZeroWasteHackney challenge? Here are some handy tips from a plastic-free champion…

Bettina Maidment and her zero waste toolkit

The council’s #ZeroWasteHackney challenge kicks off next Monday, and residents across the borough are preparing for a week of waste-saving discipline.

The gauntlet has been laid down by the Town Hall to coincide with International Zero Waste Week from 3-7 September.

With that in mind, Plastic-Free Hackney campaigner Bettina Maidment has rummaged around in her 18 months of rubbish-reduction experience and pulled out five top tips to help people on their way.

So get the pen and paper ready. Here goes…

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1. Be prepared

“Make sure you always remember to carry the basics in your zero waste toolkit – a water bottle, a cotton tote bag and a reusable coffee cup will help you to avoid a load of unnecessary waste each day.

“Once you get into the swing of bringing them with you it becomes as much a part of your routine as remembering your keys when you leave the house.”

2. Think ahead

“If you know you’re going shopping, remember to bring your bags.

“The same goes for grabbing a coffee on the go. If you do forget your cup, take five minutes to enjoy your drink in the café, or forgo it completely – a mini punishment that will hopefully help you remember it next time!”

3. Make a meal plan

“This not only saves on food waste, but also those last-minute dashes to the shops, which inevitably end up with you carting off a load of plastic-swathed produce.

“With a plan, you’ll be able to avoid excess packaging on your next trip to the supermarket.

“Buy your fruit and veg loose, or in reusable produce bags like Onya bags, and remember to bring a Tupperware box for meat, fish and cheese. I also bring a couple of jars just in case.

“Doubling the amount you cook and freezing a few portions will also mean you have a meal ready for when you’re in a hurry – and save you from grabbing an overly packaged ready meal.”

4. Bring a packed lunch

“Another tip for avoiding excessively packaged food.

“If you’re currently buying a meal deal every day for lunch, that could add up to over 200 plastic bottles, sandwich wrappers or so on each year!

“Small changes really do add up. You can wrap sandwiches in beeswax wraps or put them in an old takeaway box to avoid cling film. And if you’re taking water with you, drop in a slice of lemon or cucumber to spice it up a bit.”

5. Think before you buy

“Can you do without it? Use something you already have? Borrow from a friend or buy it second hand?

“There’s nothing less wasteful than buying nothing at all! As well as heavily cutting down on the amount of waste you produce, you’ll save a heap of money too.”

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Bettina recently teamed up with the Citizen to encourage organisations across the borough to make Hackney plastic-free.

She is the community leader for Plastic-Free Hackney, which is part of Plastic Free Communities, a national campaign by Surfers Against Sewage.

Fed up with seeing more and more litter on Hackney’s streets, in the River Lea and on beaches while holidaying, Bettina decided to drastically reduce the amount of plastic used by her family.

That was a year and a half ago, and since then she has fully embraced a plastic-free lifestyle – documenting her achievements and struggles on Instagram and Twitter.

Bettina giving a talk on plastic pollution at Netil Market in July

Bettina says Zero Waste Week is a “great opportunity for people to take a look at the amount of waste we create”.

“Recycling is a great place to start but a terrible place to stop,” she added. “We are consuming more than ever before – whether it’s convenience foods, clothing or electronic goods – which means we’re throwing away our ‘old’ things at an ever faster rate, and it’s not sustainable for the planet.”

She is hopeful that the Town Hall’s week-long challenge will be a “great wake-up call” and help residents make lasting changes.

She said: “I’m really pleased to see Hackney encouraging people to take this on. It’s a win-win situation for the borough.

“The cost of dealing with our waste is going up and up, so if we can all reduce the amount of rubbish we produce, it will save the council money – meaning more will be available for front-line services.

“And on top of that, it’s better for the planet too!”

For more information on the #ZeroWasteHackney challenge, or to sign up, please visit hackney.gov.uk/zero-waste