Waste reduction (or waste minimisation) is at the top of the waste hierarchy. The less waste we produce, the fewer natural resources we are using and the less waste we have to dispose of. It can save money too. Before you throw something away, stop and think: could it be reused by someone else?
Here are some suggestions to reduce waste:
Smarter Shopping
- Buy in bulk; purchase concentrated products or refillable packets
- Buy loose fruit and vegetables, rather than heavily packaged alternatives
- Use durable goods rather than disposable alternatives, e.g. nappies and razors
- Store food in re-sealable containers, rather than using foil or plastic film
Love Food Hate Waste
Did you know that £12 billion of food is wasted by households in the UK every year? By planning more and wasting less, the average household could save up to £50 on its monthly shopping bill.
The national campaign Love Food Hate Waste aims to help us all to reduce the amount of food we throw away. The website contains tips on longer-life storage, food preparation and fantastic recipes for using up your leftovers.
Real Nappies
By the time a baby has been potty trained, they will have used between 4,000 and 6,000 nappies. Real nappies not only reduce the amount going to waste and ultimately landfill, but could save you money too. Even if you are not able to switch completely, any reduction in the number of disposable nappies you throw away will help.
Visit the Warwickshire County Council Real Nappies Campaign for more information on washable, reusable nappies.
Stop Junk Mail
Register with the Mail Preference Service to reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail through your door.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Use cloth shopping bags or choose the 'bag for life' schemes operating at most supermarkets to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up going to landfill.
Contact
For further information, please contact the Streetscene team:
