Reducing your household waste

Reducing waste involves changing our everyday behaviour. It means thinking about our needs and the whole life cycle of a product before we buy something. Reducing waste can save money, conserve resources, save energy and water and reduce pollution.

• Shop smartly. Avoid unnecessary packaging, select recycled-content packaging, buy only what you need, and take your own reusable bags with you.
• When comparing products, think about replacement cost, life span, and the cost of parts and consumables as well as upfront cost.
• Re-use and recycle at every opportunity. Sort waste and recyclables carefully. Non-recyclables such as plastic bags, coat hangers, cigarette butts or crockery can ruin an entire recycling collection.
• Compost your food scraps or set up a worm farm.
• Mulch prunings for re-use in your garden or use your local council ‘green bin’ organic waste collection service.
• Look for ways to re-use, renovate or recycle household goods.
• Give good quality, good condition unwanted items to a charity or local second-hand shop.
• Hold a garage sale or advertise unwanted items using social media or community noticeboards.
• Take advantage of local recycling initiatives for unusual items like electrical equipment or furniture.
• Sort out and drop off unwanted household problem wastes at either your local Community Recycling Centre, or a Household Chemical CleanOut event.
• Investigate green cleaning - cleaning your home with fewer products and safer alternatives produces less waste and reduces the need for harmful chemicals.