You can reduce the amount of waste you create by choosing what rubbish you throw away. This can be easy and fun – just follow our simple guidelines to reduce your waste at home, school or work.

What To Buy and How To Use It

Waste reduction starts at the supermarket. By making slight alterations to your shopping list you can significantly reduce the amount of waste created in and around the home.

Buy only what you need

Reduce unnecessary waste by avoiding those pointless purchases. Items that rarely get used can be borrowed or shared with others.

Buy products that can be reused

Buy bottles instead of cans and rechargeable batteries. Items such as this create very little waste, as they don’t have to be thrown away after they have been used just once.

Buy all-purpose household cleaner

Instead of buying many different ones for each cleaning role.

Buy products with little packaging

So that less packaging ends up in your rubbish bin. For those items you use regularly, buy them in bulk instead of in smaller amounts. This will save you money as well as reduce waste.

Sell or give away unwanted items Reduce waste by donating unwanted items to family, friends or neighbours. You could even sell your possessions in a car-boot sale and earn some extra cash.

Reduce paper waste by cancelling unwanted mail You can unsubscribe to many national mailing lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association:

www.dma.org.uk

Reducing Hazardous Waste

Many hazardous products cannot be recycled as they contain harmful chemicals. However, there are ways of reducing waste by dealing with hazardous products in the correct manor.

Buy non-toxic products whenever possible

Many toxic products such as motor oil and pesticides cannot be reused.

Recycle motor products

Such as break fluid, oils and tyres by taking them to your local petrol station. By recycling these products instead of throwing them away, you are reducing hazardous waste.

Use all of the toxic product, such as furniture polish, so there is no hazardous material left in the container when it is discarded.

Find safer alternatives to hazardous household products.

You can even make your own household cleaners using products such as baking soda and vinegar. Olive oil with lemon juice is a good alternative to furniture polish and using scented candles are a good alternative to air fresheners.

Think Before You Throw

Many of the items that you would normally consider as rubbish could be used for other purposes. So instead of throwing items away, reduce waste by using them for other roles.

Paper and Envelopes

Can be used as scrap paper for making notes.

Cardboard, Newspaper and Bubble Wrap
Can be used as packing materials. Packaging products, such as foil and egg cartons, can be used for art projects in schools and nurseries.

Jars and Pots
Can be used as small containers to store odds and ends.

Plastic and Paper Bags
Can be reused in the shops, used as bin bags around the house or as wrapping paper.

Used wood
Can be used in woodcrafts for making small garden objects such as bird tables. Alternatively it could be used as firewood.