Tips on fighting waste

The best way of dealing with our waste is not to create it in the first place (Reduce or Prevent). After that, we should Reuse, Recycle and Recover value from our waste wherever possible.

Waste disposal in landfill is a last resort and must be avoided wherever possible.

Reduce

To reduce waste means to reduce the amount of things you use in the first place so that you have less to throw away. 

Here are some ideas:

• Don't buy things you don't really need
• Choose things that are well made and will last
• Use rechargable batteries
• Don't just throw things away if they break, try to get them repaired
• Buy food with less packaging. For example, buy loose fruit & veg and don't put them in bags
• Don't use disposable things
• Use your own shopping bags when you go shopping. This will reduce the number of carrier bags you waste and will save you 5p per bag at the tills!

Reuse

Reuse means use things again. If you can't reduce, then try to reuse. Lots of things can be reused and if you can't reuse them yourself try to find someone else who can.

Here are some things you can do:

• Buy second hand from a charity shop, car boot sale or jumble sale. As well as helping your environment you will save a lot of money.
• Reuse yoghurt pots or the bottom half of plastic bottles as plant pots.
• Plastic carrier bags can be reused several times as shopping bags and can also be used as bin liners.
• Pass on unwanted items to friends or relatives who would like it or sell it to someone else who can make use of it.
• Buy milk in glass bottles from your milkman, which can be returned for reuse. This reduces the number of plastic or cardboard milk containers that might otherwise be thrown away.

Recycle

Recycle means using things that have already been used, to make new things. Only recycle when you can't reduce or reuse.

Here are some ways in which you can do this:

• Make sure you use our weekly recycling service. We collect food waste, garden waste, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic containers/bottles and tins & cans.
• Take old clothes, toys, books, CDs, or videos to a charity shop, car boot sale or jumble sale. That way someone else can use them.
• Make or buy a compost bin or worm composter. Use these to compost uncooked kitchen waste and garden waste, which you can use to grow new food or flowers.
• Buy recycled. It's only by buying things made from recycled materials that you will make it worthwhile to recycle things in the first place.

So remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle your waste. It is much better to Reduce waste in the first place as then there is less to deal with. Reusing things is the second best option as it saves you buying new things. After you have reduced and reused as much as you can, Recycle.

The last thing that should cross your mind is to throw it in the bin!