Gold Coast family reduces rubbish to one 3L bag per month in caring for environment

A Gold Coast family of four have dramatically reduced their waste to just one small bag of rubbish — per month — and they’ve even got the kids on board.

A GOLD Coast family of four has dramatically reduced household waste to just one three-litre bag of rubbish a month.

This is significantly less than that of the average Australian person, according to the National Waste Report 2014-15, which shows individuals generate about 2.7 tonnes of rubbish a year.

That three-litre bag is six times less than what Shani Shpilman, husband Gal Hirshberg and their children Libi, 10, and Adam, 7, used to throw away 12 months ago.

GOLD COAST RECYCLING ON ITS WAY UP

Children Adam Hirshberg, 7, and Libi Hirshberg, 10 showing how little waste their family produces each month. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ms Shpilman said the family was driven to reduce waste further as she had progressed through her studies in environmentalism.

“We only live once, we only have one earth,” she said.

Ms Shpilman said it was important her children were on board with the idea. They helped decide what was important to them and what wasn’t when it came to the lifestyle change.

NERANG RSL PULPS OWN RUBBISH ON COAST

The whole family gets involved when it comes to reducing waste. Picture: Jerad Williams

The family stopped buying items wrapped in non-recyclable materials, such as bread, crackers, chips and toothpaste, choosing to make these themselves.

“I create my own cleaning products. I use baking soda or bi-carb soda to clean surfaces like the floors or the windows or toilet, mixed with apple cider vinegar and essential oils so I can choose what it smells like,” she said.

“We even make our own toothpaste and deodorant.”

MOO GOO SKIN CARE BEGINS REFILLING PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Flannery’s Organic & Wholefood Market naturopath Caroline Robertson said there was no excuse anymore when it came to caring for the environment.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

“There are so many environmentally friendly products on the market now that there isn’t an excuse to be using toxins that pollute our oceans,” she said.

“The same with plastic substitutes. It’s heartening to see how more Australians, especially the younger generation, are starting to understand the severity of climate change and want to do something about it.’’