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Zero Waste Week 2025

Zero Waste Week is an annual campaign that encourages individuals, households, businesses, and communities to reduce their waste—especially the amount sent to landfill. The goal is to raise awareness about the environmental impact of waste and to inspire people to take simple, practical steps to reduce it.

Key Facts:

  • When: It usually takes place in the first week of September each year (e.g. 2–6 September 2025).
  • Where: It started in the UK but now has a global following.
  • Founded by: Rachelle Strauss in 2008.

What Happens During Zero Waste Week?

Everyone is encouraged to:

  • Track what they throw away
  • Take part in challenges (e.g. no single-use plastic for a week)
  • Share tips and ideas on social media
  • Try new habits like composting, repairing items, or buying package-free goods

Why It Matters:

  • Reduces pollution (especially plastic pollution)
  • Saves money by reusing and buying less
  • Lowers your carbon footprint
  • Protects ecosystems and biodiversity

How Salamander Stoves are Participating in Zero Waste Week 2025

Here at Salamander Stoves, 95% of our packaging is eco friendly and we do our best to reuse any plastic packaging that we may have accumulated such as bubble wrap. The stove box that our Hobbit Stove and Little Range Cookstove are packaged in is sturdy, made of plywood and can be a great thing to up-cycle instead of just throwing it away!

How to up-cycle your small stove box:
  • Make your stove box into a log box, see here how we made one with a Hobbit Stove box
  • Use it as a planter for flowers or crops like potatoes
  • Sand and paint it to match your interior and use it as a storage box for blankets/cushions
  • Store children’s toys inside
  • Make a hedgehog house
  • Make it into a coffee or side table
  • Make a bee hive
  • Do some upholstering to the top and create a funky stool or a bench seat using the larger Little Range box!
warren smith 1

Re-purposing The Ash From Your Stove

Ash from a fire—such as wood ash from a fireplace, fire pit, or wood-burning stove—can be surprisingly useful. What you do with it depends on the type of ash and your needs. Here’s a guide to help:

Safe and Useful Ways to Use Wood Ash

Only use ash from clean, untreated wood. Never use ash from burned trash, painted/treated wood, or charcoal briquettes with additives.

1. Compost Additive

  • Why: Ash is alkaline and rich in potassium and calcium.
  • How: Sprinkle a small amount (thin layers) into your compost bin to balance acidity. Don’t overdo it—too much can raise pH too high.

2. Garden Fertiliser

  • Best for: Acidic soils, tomatoes, carrots, brassicas (like kale or cabbage).
  • How: Lightly dust over soil and mix in. Test your soil pH first—ash raises alkalinity.

3. Pest Deterrent

  • How: Sprinkle a barrier around plants to deter slugs and snails. Reapply after rain.

4. Ice Melter

  • How: Use on icy driveways or walkways in winter. It adds traction and helps melt ice.

5. Odour Neutraliser

  • Use: Place a small open container of ash in musty areas to absorb odors.

6. Cleaning Agent

  • How: Mix with a bit of water to make a mildly abrasive paste—good for cleaning stove glass, see here for more information on how to do this.

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