Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WHAT’S HOT..
My little girl loves to jump around. So much so we considered buying her a trampoline. Pricy bit of equipment. But we may just be able to save ourselves a small fortune as this week I discovered a new game. Here’s how it goes – I open up our overflowing blue bin, I lift my toddler up and put her standing on the mound of plastic and cardboard and I get her to jump up and down on it. Genius,
Teal McGurk, originally from Canada, moved here five years ago.
The mum of two, soon to be three, set up DoYourBit at the end of 2017 as after moving here, she was shocked at how far behind the UK was with regards to waste.
Her online store sells a wide variety of low waste, natural and plastic-free products all sourced as locally as possible in Ireland and the UK.
The products range from kitchen staples such as dish brushes to washroom basics like bamboo toothbrushes and reusable make-up wipes.
Teal said: “Being a girl who grew up pretty eco-conscious, I was hoping it would encourage people to look at their waste and try to live a more low waste lifestyle.
“When I moved to Northern Ireland about four years ago I was kind of shocked at how behind it was in terms of waste.
“All fruit and veg was plastic wrapped when they really don’t need to be – I mean bananas really? They have their own protection.
“So I thought it’s time NI had options of it’s own. I believe it’s all about progress over perfection. It’s not about being perfect but about making changes within our means so we can to leave a lighter footprint on this place we call home.
“My goal is to offer as many plastic-free options as possible. Some of my bestsellers include 2in1 shampoo and soap bars, kitchen brushes and scourers, beeswax wraps and natural deodorant.
“Since starting DoYourBit, it’s been great to see the low-waste lifestyle gain momentum in NI and the UK. It’s on the news more and people are certainly more aware of their waste and chemicals they want to ditch at home.
“Although with lockdown I haven’t been able to attend my usual markets, online sales have been great.
“It is lovely to see so many people supporting small local businesses like my own and I’m so appreciative of it.
“For Plastic Free July, my top tips would be to pick a room in your house and start from there. Personally, I recommend the washroom as there are so many swaps that can be made.
“Don’t throw away things but only replace them as they need replaced.
“And I believe the best way to keep the momentum going on the low-waste plastic-free movement is simply to talk about it and raise awareness.
“There are still so many people not aware of the harsh toxins and chemicals in our every-day products and also, people who aren’t aware of the plastic free alternatives which are available out there.”
For more information visit www.dotourbitni.com even if I do say so myself. She gets to bounce and I get to make room for more plastic and cardboard waste, of which there will be plenty more. I don’t know about you but we just can’t keep up with it all. And I’m not exaggerating when I say it keeps me awake at night worrying about where it will go before collection day and where it will end up after collection day. We are all doing the right thing by recycling, but how much of it actually does get recycled... properly? This is month is Plastic Free July and I have vowed to make more effort to cut back on my single use of this extremely harmful substance. Hopefully I and two local business owners below will encourage you to do the same.
Founders of the Yoga Quarter Alice Wilkinson, Susan McEwen and Philip Rankin opened up the Refill Quarter last September and have had a phenomenal response.
Customers head to the store on the Belmont Road in East Belfast with their own containers and fill them up with cereals, pasta, rice, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, flour, sugar, tea, coffee...the shopping list is endless. They will also find a wide range of sustainable household and beauty products.
As a result of lockdown, Refill has had to operate a kiosk-style experience as the public weren’t allowed inside and it is delivering within a five-mile radius. But as of July 18, the store is reopening and will be bigger than ever as it expands next door.
Alice said: “We opened up in September after seeing other cities doing similar and we were waiting for someone else to do it but they never did so we thought, ‘Maybe we should do it’. And the response we have had has been phenomenal.
“Even before we opened the doors we had so many messages of support. We are constantly adding and tweaking when customers suggest things they want to buy so we have added a lot of plastic free household products.
“And then in March, lockdown started and the supermarkets ran out of things very quickly and we still had plenty of stock and customers told me we were their best-kept secret.
“So we set up a kisok at the front of the shop and asked people to bring their labelled containers and we filled them up for them.
“Then the delivery service was something else we hadn’t planned and that really took off very quickly and we deliver everything in paper bags which can be composted.
“We used the next door unit as a store room and now we have decided to take it on permanently and add lots more products.
“For starting out with going plastic free I have two pieces of advice. First, don’t get overwhelmed. Once you start realising the plastic and carbon footprint and all those things it can be very daunting. Nobody can do everything perfectly all the time.
“So the best thing is to ask, ‘What can I do which will be fairly easy for me to switch to?’ like replacing a plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one. Take little steps and don’t try taking over the world.
“My next piece of advice is to be organised. Like getting into the routine of taking a reusable cup, metal straw or plastic bag with you.” For more information visit www.refillquarter.com
IT’S PLAYTIME
Life is just swings and roundabouts they say, and it certainly has been – metaphorically speaking – the past few months. But now it literally can be again as all outdoor playgrounds and parks have reopened for children. Wheeee!
DON’T SWEAT IT
And some more good news is that amusements, cinemas and bingo halls have opened again. The bad news is, so have gyms. So you’ll now have to work out another excuse to not have to work out. Phew!
MASK APPEAL As coronavirus continues to ravage across America, the country’s most famous faces – including Jennifer Aniston here – are, well, covering them up with PPE and encouraging everyone to wear one while in public.