I love throwing things away. I love the satisfaction you get when you finish something and file the packaging in the bin. I don’t get a thrill from snapping open the silver seal on a jar of coffee with a spoon like some, I get a thrill from pouring out the last of the grains into the spoon! Don’t get me wrong I love a new product in the fridge or on the shelf as much as the next person but only if its predecessor has been thoroughly enjoyed and finished! Every magazine has to be fully read before a new one can be opened – sometimes its torture…

I think about rubbish a lot (don’t worry this isn’t a post about recycling) and about how it moves through the house, from the top floor to the bottom and out to the big street bins. I have been known to walk through every room in the house carrying discarded items and thinking about where they are going to go: main bin, charity bag, nappy pail, straight outside, recycling box etc.

I keep all carrier bags to use as makeshift, mini rubbish bags and hang them on door handles and coat hooks. I will put the tiniest thing on eBay or donate it just so I don’t have to throw it away, and I was happy to see a microwave oven at the top of Lansdowne Place this evening with a sign on it saying ‘It Does Work’ (its still there if you need one).

Babies nappies are problem, they can only really go in one direction – from bum to pail to outside bin – and quickly! I have learnt to never leave them outside to await disposal in the morning, it seems seagulls have a thing for nappies and can pick out the bag that holds them above all others. After moving here I was surprised to see our bags ripped open and nappies strewn around the outside, on a neighbour’s car, in some flower beds etc. For ages I blamed the cat over the road while gingerly going round picking them up again. Until I realised the nightly squawking was the seagulls having their way with the Huggies. Something a seaside mum has to consider!

Here’s a couple of tips for you if you also have a local seagull with a binbag habit – only leave white bags outside (apparently they can’t spot them as well) or spray your bags with hairspray before putting them out the door (they can’t bear it). Yes there are radio phone-ins about such things.

Another little rubbish tip for you (see what I did there?) always smile at your recycling men! I found mine picked me up for the slightest thing – never emptying my box, always leaving me little notes etc until I decided to make them my friends! Now they are happy to take the odd bit of glass or battery that’s not in its own container, or a spare bag if the box is too full. They now also always replace the lid! Result.

Husband despairs. His relationship with rubbish is a lot more simple than mine, get it out of the house and into the hands of the council as quick as possible! (He’ll be surprised that I am writing about rubbish because he thinks I never empty the bin enough) He also has no idea of the pleasure of finishing a product, ensuring you get every last drop out of that bubble bath or ketchup bottle – he considers anything that has been half used to be ‘scrapings’! And sadly ‘Mummy’s Scrapings’ are a household joke. I have been known to withhold and hide new items until everything has been finished up and it seems everyone suffers with odd dinners and not enough foam in the bath… He loves to quote Danny Baker: “My wife does something brilliant with leftovers… she throws them away”