Reducing waste is a core part of our mission at Green Connect. Our aim, both within our organisation and for the many companies that hire our Zero Waste services, is to divert as much waste as possible from landfill and reduce our reliance on materials that have no recycling or reuse options.
This is true at the farm too! Everything in your veg box can be eaten, reused, or recycled. Paper bags replace plastic; Elastics can be repurposed at home or bundled together and returned to us; Waxed cardboard boxes are used as many times as possible (6 on average) before being retired.
Sadly, the red bin is the only option when disposing of waxed cardboard in the council bin system. But, true to form, our team has found a useful and creative way to keep our old boxes out of landfill.
Waxed cardboard is an effective ground cover in the garden. It is tough and long-lasting enough to smother weeds but breaks down into the soil over time. By laying boxes at the ends of garden beds, they help to smother pervasive kikuyu grass and other weeds so they don’t encroach on our growing space. They also act as platforms for the water pipes that feed our drip lines, making them more visible and less likely to be damaged or cut. Steps like this are important when working with supported staff who are learning employment skills.
We are so proud to offer a truly zero waste veg box! Thank you for helping us achieve this mission by handling your boxes gently, storing them away from the elements, and returning them to us for reuse.