Waste minimisation

The following are just a few tips that will help you to minimise the waste you produce:

  1. Buy products with less packaging, such as loose fruit and vegetables, rather than over packaged varieties, and choose products packaged in materials which are easier to recycle.
  2. Buy in bulk, as this often reduces packaging, as well as cost.
  3. Choose reusable items such as refillable pens, re-usable razors and “bags for life”, rather than plastic carriers.
  4. Use dishcloths instead of disposable wipes, and old clothes or other textiles as dusters.
  5. Drink tap water rather than bottled water.
  6. Try using re-usable nappies instead of disposal ones as the latter cannot be recycled and do not biodegrade in landfill.
  7. Save money and reduce waste by thinking about how much you need to buy at the supermarket, and making a list before you go.
  8. Store leftover food and packed lunches in re-usable containers, instead of cling film or foil wrapping.
  9. Use both sides of note paper, and whenever you can buy paper which is recycled.
  10. You can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by contacting the Mail Preference Service.
  11. Contact your favourite charities to see if they will recycle your old mobile phones and used printer ink cartridges. Several charities now run such re-use and recycling schemes.
  12. Use a home compost bin for your fruit, vegetable and garden waste, and use the compost on your garden, rather than having to buy peat based compost, which depletes natural resources.
  13. Pass unwanted books, toys and clothes to friends and family, or give them to nurseries or charity shops. Textiles can also be recycled at many of our recycling sites, if they cannot be re-used by people that you know.