When we asked for your opinion via our Facebook page, the views seemed mixed.
Some thought it was a waste of time and would add more plastic to the environment while others thought it was great for families with younger children.
‘‘There’s been a lot of controversy about those Coles and Woolies toys because they are plastic therefore should be banned,’’ one person said via The News Facebook page yesterday.
‘‘So does that mean all plastic toys in the world should also be banned?
‘‘Just think back to when a child and you got excited and couldn’t wait to get those little toys in cereal packets. No different to today’s kids.’’
‘‘There’s a little kid in us all.’’
Yes, we do believe almost everyone has an inner-child just waiting to jump out at the right opportunity. But perhaps instead of debating whether these promotions are polluting the world or not we should act on ways to reduce waste in our own homes.
And yes, you can still be a collector while having a positive impact on the environment. You can make a start by getting to know the rules of recycling or ditching the plastic bag.
Food waste is a huge problem in households. About 40 per cent of the average household rubbish bin is avoidable food waste. But it’s preventable if you only buy groceries you know you will eat — which, we admit, isn’t the easiest thing to do.
How do you plan for that 8pm sugar craving? You have lots of snack options available, of course. All the time — which tends to go against ‘‘only buy what you need’’ strategy.
Still, a meal plan is the first step to reducing food waste. It’s also a good habit to start relying on reusable containers. Once you start buying what you need, naturally, the next step is storing what you need.
Then there’s also composting or learning to repair rather than throw out, using a bamboo toothbrush and not buying plastic water bottles.
The list to reduce waste is endless and the choice of acting on any of it, ultimately, is yours.
But when you consider that by 2050 — according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation — plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean, the argument becomes less about Coles or Woolworths and more about you and me.
What can we do to stop that statistic from becoming our reality?
Well, the answer is, a lot.
How much you do or don’t do really comes backs to you and the lengths you’re willing to go to, to change.
