Cool Stuff

A lot of cool stuff happens to me, but I often lose track of it. Consider this page just as much for me as it is for you!

I was on Australian national television!

I have been working nonstop to get the #PlasticFreeProduce message in front of average consumers. After three years I was given the opportunity to organise a ‘Plastic Attack’ event for the Australian documentary TV series, War On Waste. The cost was a trolley load of plastic (and a week of organisation beforehand). The result was that the following clip has been viewed by almost half a million people in two weeks. Plus, the television episode aired in prime time, not once but twice on ABC Television (Australia’s national broadcaster). I have overheard people talk about the show, even quoting my words (oblivious I am the person they are quoting). Thank you, ABC Television, for launching this important issue into the conversation of average Australians.

War On Waste: The Battle Continues – Tuesday 8.30pm

Do bananas and apples really need to be wrapped in plastic? #PlasticFreeProduce #WarOnWasteAU

Posted by ABC TV on Sunday, August 5, 2018

 

My Facebook post reached over 2 million people!?

Which photo shows the most unnecessary plastic packaging?

To vote on your fav (being most terrible) write ‘Gets My Vote” next to the picture.

#PlasticFreeProduce

Posted by Anita Horan on Sunday, March 4, 2018

My humble little Facebook post about unnecessary plastic packaging reached over 2 million people! It was also shared over 9,000 times! People are ready for the #PlasticFreeProduce message. If you haven’t shared it already, please click on the Facebook logo above to open FB and share it with your own friends and family. If you don’t use Facebook, don’t worry, I still love you!

I was invited to speak to school students about my #PlasticFreeProduce work!

Anything smaller than the palm of your hand will be rejected by the recycling facility.

I presented my research into our plastic addicted lifestyles and why I’m concerned about it to school students at Ryde Secondary college. Please read my account of this amazing experience here.

The mainstream media in Australia is now talking about plastic pollution!

These items washed up on a remote far north Queensland beach in 2016. Supplied: Tangaroa Blue

Absolutely brilliant news story and so happy to see it published by ABC News, Australia: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/what-you-can-do-to-reduce-plastic-pollution/9642352
This is what I have been banging on about when I say I don’t put my greasy plastics or cardboard into the recycling bin. ‘If there’s too much contamination, you risk sending a truck full of recyclables to landfill.’

My work was featured on the Conscious Living Blog.

Jaclyn McCosker of the Conscious Living Blog, wrote about my #PlasticFreeProduce campaign here:
http://jaclynmccosker.com/eco/plastic-free-supermarket
Thanks Jaclyn!

I feel this is my best radio interview yet:

I talk about our plastic obsession and my #PlasticFreeProduce campaign with Liz and Leo of Food for Thought. Because this was recorded before I updated my social pages, I gave Liz and Leo my old social handles. Remember, if you ever need to help someone find me on Facebook or Instagram, just search for: anitafromaustralia 😊

The Plastic Pollution Coalition wrote about me. Legends!

I love the Plastic Pollution Coalition. I feel honoured they wrote about me here:
http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/pft/2017/4/28/plastic-free-produce-why-we-dont-need-our-food-gift-wrapped

Plastic Free desserts? (not if you buy the ingredients from a supermarket).

A fun little video that shows the disconnect between the gorgeous food photography in the promotional materials from the big supermarkets and the awful reality 🙁

My Facebook post on our plastic obsession reached almost 300,000 people!

Planet Earth in the year 2018.

Currently being poisoned en masse by its inhabitants.

Humankind, a species obsessed…

Posted by Anita Horan on Saturday, March 17, 2018

If you haven’t shared it already, please click on the Facebook logo above to open FB and share it with your own friends and family. The more people ‘see’ plastic and it effects, the more likely they will demand a change.

In case you missed them – some of my popular videos.

It’s Easy to Buy Plastic Free Produce!

Make the right choice, buy #PlasticFreeProduce. Plastic production is exploding at such an immense rate, that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. We used to think asbestos was useful, but with the new research into plastic, I have a feeling our view of plastic will go the same way. Plastic is poison.

Posted by Anita Horan on Monday, April 2, 2018

If you find the right business, buying your food plastic free is easy!

The Plastic Footprint of buying produce online from Woolworths

WT ACTUAL F*** WOOLWORTHS!

I always buy my groceries in store and choose #PlasticFreeProduce and take my own re-usable carry bags. But I decided to try online as a one off experiement to see how much plastic they use. I was shocked.

Dear supporters, if you ever wanted to help me, now is your chance. Please s.h.a.r.e this video on your page and in your groups.

Tomorrow I will tell you the total number.

Let’s demand #PlasticFreeProduce

Posted by Anita Horan on Thursday, November 30, 2017

The plastic footprint after I bought fresh food online from a major supermarket. This was also the post that turned my partner off Facebook after he read the hateful comments the supermarket employees left for me.

Reducing waste in the laundry.

***** CLOTHES WASHING *****

My ‘Don’t’ LIST when it comes to washing clothes.

* Don’t use hot or warm water (they’re clothes, not people)
* Don’t use the full amount suggested on the packet.
* Don’t use softener or at least don’t use as much as they recommend.
* Don’t set your machine to a full cycle unless your clothes are excessively dirty.
* Don’t use the dryer (unless an emergency)
* Don’t leave dark colours too long in the sun.

My ‘Do’ list

* Try just half or even better, 1/4 of the amount of detergent recommended on the bottle/packet.
* As a standard, only use the rinse cycle (thus the small amount of detergent will be plenty.)
* Have some soapy water in your sink or a bucket and hand spot the stains out (make time for it, I know we’re all busy)
* See if you can get away with hand washing only, for as many clothes as possible. Use a tiny bit of detergent in a bucket, swish around pump clothes in water, then only rinse or even better, just the spin cycle.
* If using softener or eucalyptus oil, only add a tiny bit right at the end so it doesn’t just all wash straight down the sink.
* If you have bathwater leftover, add some some soap and essential oils and dirty clothes and swish. You can even let it sit overnight and swish them for a few minutes in the morning then just spin in machine.
* If you only use soapy water, pour on the grass outside. I have a special hose if I am particularly diligent.
* Hang shirts on coat hangers on the line to prevent peg marks.
*Hang towels outside to dry after use, they don’t need to be washed each time you use them.
* Lay clothes lightly on basket when bringing them in to avoid excessive ironing.

* This is for general household clothes, this advice is not for babies nappies.

I am adding this comment after reading responses to this post: “Wow, some people are so germ phobic. I posted this in some other countries and people there are freaked out about using cold water. They are almost breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of catching something deadly from their clothes if they don’t use hot water. This is absurd to me. Most germs will die simply from being dry and heated by the sun. How many cultures have simply washed their clothes in the local river? I wonder if this fear is a cultural issue? And these are people on waste reduction sites. I think we need to really question ourselves about what is normal behaviour and what is ‘accepted extreme behaviour’ based on what our consumer driven society is telling us. We are facing the hottest years ever on record, our use of electricity may be contributing, yet people are freaked about switching to cold on their washing machines, is there a shaking head emoji???”

Do you have any other suggestions?

Posted by Anita Horan on Saturday, January 20, 2018

Don’t know where to start with reducing plastic waste in you home? Start in the laundry 🙂