Along with the muffled roar that rises from the G on weekends in winter, and the metallic whir and ding of trams, add the clumsy raspberry of the Soda Stream to the list of Quintessential Melbourne Sounds. Most of us grew up with this humble fizzy-drinks maker, which is enjoying a grown-up eco-friendly comeback.
Carbonating tap water means we’re using less plastic drinking bottles – 65% of which end up in landfill, and are costly (both environmentally and financially) to produce. Plus the SS uses no electricity and is likely to save money – encouraging us to turn on the tap for water rather than tripping up to the shop.
Chin chin.

Those who take their shopping home in plastic carrier bags (rather than ‘green’ reusable ones) re-use them - instead of buying plastic bags to line their bins, say. But those little boogers used for fruit and veg are good for nothing. The checkout people tolerate having to corral loose apples on the scale, but they don’t like it. And they draw the line at loose unwashed dirt-encrusted potatoes. Now, there’s a locally designed re-usable fruit & veg bag on the market, the Fregie – made from coloured polypropylene that lasts a year or two. Buy them online from $12.50 for five.