Give it a try July
Kate Fenwick shares simple ways to create small changes that make a difference.
You know how January gets all the hype for being the month of big resolutions and gym memberships you use twice? Well, I’d like to propose a new tradition: Give it a Try July – the one month a year where we make a small but mighty change to how we deal with waste.
Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to become a full-blown zero-waste wizard or start washing and reusing your dental floss (please don’t). This is about finding one habit that feels doable, maybe even fun, and giving it a red-hot go for 31 days. No guilt, no eco-perfectionism, just good intentions and a bit of fun along the way.
Behaviour change takes time, and trying to overhaul everything at once is a fast track to burnout (and possibly crying in the supermarket aisle). But choosing one behaviour to focus on? That’s achievable.
That’s the sweet spot. And over time, those small changes stack up into something pretty impressive. So what might you try in July? Here are five waste-minimising behaviours that are surprisingly easy to adopt – and the goal is to change that one behaviour permanently moving forward.
1. Change the way you wrap
This month, become a cling film quitter. Swap it for beeswax wraps, containers with lids, or just plonk a plate over your leftovers. Your sandwiches will still survive, I promise.
2. Make friends with your freezer
If your veggie drawer regularly turns into a compost starter kit, July is your time to shine. Chop and freeze your wilty greens, overripe bananas, and half-used herbs before they cross over to the dark side.
3. Ditch the wish-cycling
Let’s stop putting random stuff in the recycling bin and hoping for the best (aka wish-cycling). Take a few minutes to check what your local council actually accepts and find the places you can take things like metal products, soft plastics and e-waste. Knowledge is power – and also less landfill.
4. BYO everything (except drama)
Whether it’s your coffee cup, shopping bags, or lunch container, try bringing your own. Bonus points if you manage to awkwardly carry five groceries in your arms because you forgot your tote again. We’ve all been there.
5. Get nosy about your rubbish
Yes, I’m telling you to poke through your bin. Do a mini waste audit and see what keeps showing up. Is it snack wrappers? Receipts? Wine bottles (no judgement)? Once you spot a pattern, you can tackle it head-on.
The magic of Give it a Try July isn’t about nailing it perfectly. It’s about giving something different a whirl, proving to yourself that change doesn’t have to be hard or heroic.
So go on, pick your one thing and give it a try. Worst case scenario? You end up with a sense of accomplishment and a cleaner bin and you definitely made a difference when it comes to minimising your waste.
Have fun with it and even create a challenge with your friends or work colleagues.
