Every year the nation throws away 3% more rubbish than the year before. Recycling and composting helps to reduce the amount that gets sent to landfill sites, but we all really need to reduce the amount that we create in the first place.
The following information shows how each of us can help to make a difference.
Love Food Hate Waste Campaign
Choose Reusable Nappies
Zero Waste Lunch Project
Zero Waste Challenge Week
Junk Mail
Avoiding Disposable Items
Borrow, Share or Donate
Making Things Last Longer
Refills
Avoiding Overpackaged Items
Home Composting
Gifts
Choose Reusable Nappies
Each year we throw away up to 500,000 tonnes of disposable nappies, accounting for 2-3% of all domestic waste. This costs Councils up to £40 million every year to dispose of and is the equivalent in weight to 70,000 double decker buses.
By choosing to use reusable nappies, you can help to reduce the impact made by disposable nappies and can potentially make significant cost savings. There are many different types of reusable nappies to choose from and there are nappy laundry services available for those who would prefer not to wash them at home.
For further information please go to Real Nappies
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Zero Waste Lunch Project
Bath & North East Somerset Council have been working with local primary schools to introduce the Zero Waste Lunch Project by encouraging pupils to bring in a lunchbox consisting only of items that can be recycled or composted.
So instead of crisp packets, sweet wrappers and non recyclable drinks cartons, children may bring in things like home cooked sausages, fruit and vegetables and drinks in reusable flasks. Not only is it healthier for the environment, it's healthier for the children too.
Schools who wish to take part or find out more can contact waste_services@bathnes.gov.uk
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Zero Waste Challenge Week
The Zero Waste Challenge Week won the Valpak Best Waste Minimisation Award at the National Recycling Awards in November 2007 and now Bath & North East Somerset Council in partnership with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils are inviting local residents to take part in this year's challenge which is due to be held from Monday 29th September to Sunday 5th October 2008.
The aim of the week is to see how little you can throw away in the rubbish bin by aiming to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost as much as possible instead. However much or little you usually throw away we think that if you give this challenge a go, you'll be surprised at how little you can throw away - on average those people who have taken part in previous years have thrown away 1/4 of what they would normally throw away. For more information about the week please go to Zero Waste Challenge Week.
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Junk Mail
To remove your name from direct mailing lists contact the Mail Preference Service at FREEPOST 29, LON20771, London, W1E 0ZT (Tel: 0845 703 4599). http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/
You can also reduce the amount of mail you send to other people by choosing email instead.
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Avoid Disposable Items
Where there are reusable alternatives, try to avoid disposable products. Some examples include:
- Shopping bags
- Cameras
- Razors
- Plates and cups for parties and events
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Borrow, Share or Donate
There are many charities and organisations who are keen to reuse your old unwanted items. Try:
- Charities. Many charity shops will take items such as clothes, bric a brac, books and music or look out for local jumble sales.
- The SOFA Project and Genesis Furniture Project will both collect unwanted items of furniture and appliances for reuse at their discretion.
- You can sell your old items through the classifieds sections of local newspapers, the website or events such as car boot sales.
- You can swap or exchange items or give them away. Bath Freegle is a local re-use network for people who wish to give away or find things for free
- If there's something you're only going to use once or twice, you could hire it and save yourself the expense of buying it new or you could choose to share items such as gardening tools with friends or neighbours.
- Libraries are another great way to borrow items rather than buying them from new.
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Making Things Last Longer
When shopping, choose items that are more durable and last longer such as:
- Rechargeable batteries that can be used over and over again.
- Low energy light bulbs that last much longer than conventional light bulbs.
- Clothes that are likely to remain in fashion longer.
When things become damaged, rather than throwing them away, can they be repaired instead?
- Shoes can be taken to the cobblers for repairs that will extend their life dramatically.
- Clothes can often be repaired with simple sewing jobs.
- Furniture and appliances can often be repaired or refurbished to help to give them a longer life.
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Refills
Using the same container over and over again rather than a new one each time can help to reduce the amount we throw away.
- Use reusable flasks and bottles that can be rinsed and refilled.
- Use plastic containers such as tupperware to carry or store foodstuffs.
- Some environmentally friendly cleaning products are sold in refillable containers that you can use over again
- The packaging from items such as coffee jars can make excellent storage containers.
- If your milk round still uses glass bottles, opt for using the milkman rather than the shop as milk bottles can be washed and reused over and over again.
The Bath Green Companion has a directory that includes some local shops that will provide refills. Go to www.greenbath.org for more information.
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Avoiding Overpackaged Items
In 2001, UK households produced the equivalent weight of 245 jumbo jets per week in packaging waste. If we choose items with less packaging we have less to throw away and will probably also save quite a bit of money.
- Buy fruit and vegetables loose rather than prepacked - many don't need a bag at all. Some shops sell many other products such as cereals etc. in this way too.
- Choose concentrated rather than diluted materials as they use less packaging and buy in bulk in preference to lots of individually packed items.
- Avoid products that are packaged excessively and choose alternative items instead.
- Choose products that are packaged in containers that can easily be recycled.
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Home Composting
Putting your old kitchen and garden scraps into the compost bin at home, will ultimately provide you with a useful soil conditioner for the garden rather than being throw away. See Composting for further information about how you can start.
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Gifts
Many presents that we buy for each other end up at best, being ignored and at worst, being thrown away. Yet the following ideas can help to reduce the chances of this happening:
- Choose an event rather than an actual gift. This may range from a trip to the theatre or cinema to a weekend away or a meal out. There are plenty of websites offering novel ideas to make a truly memorable gift.
- Choose gift vouchers so the person can choose their ideal present. There are many different types of gift vouchers available to suit every taste.
- Sponsorship is another alternative to actual presents. There are many charities that you can help to sponsor in return for recognition of your help.
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