The Warehouse Plastic Pollution
Last summer, with kids coming to stay, I went to the Warehouse to grab some buckets and spades for the beach. They had them alright, but they were flimsy, bendy even, and way less than useful at Tahunanui beach. Fortunately, I found solid ones at Para and all was sorted for the kids
Trouble is I could easily see the future of those zillions of The Warehouse plastic beach toys nation wide – soon broken and discarded at the beach by disappointed children so I wrote to The Warehouse explaining that I accepted it was too late to change that summer’s stock but asking they got better stuff this year.
The Warehouse responded saying they stood by the quality of their stock and it was the parents’ responsibility to stop their children littering.
Going back in this year I see their plastic spades can be bent into a circle with the gentle use of just one finger.
The buckets were, if possible, even flimsier.
The Warehouse may reckon it’s doing its bit by encouraging shoppers to not use single use shopping bags but they are doing parents, children and the environment – including all sea creatures – a major disservice (harm in the case of the sea creatures) selling such obviously not fit for purpose plastic to take to the beach.
My own kids buckets and spades only got taken to the op shop, battered but still perfectly serviceable, once they had left home and we finally cleared up after them.
This Christmas, if you don’t want to waste money on junk and do care for the environment you might want to look at how ‘single use’ a lot of The Warehouse stock – not just the buckets and spades – are.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!
Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.7% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below