Reducing and Re-using
We all need to take responsibility for the amount of rubbish we throw away. Minimising the amount of waste we produce is by far the most effective way of ending our reliance on landfill.
The Partner Boroughs are all committed to reducing the amount of waste each individual household generates.
Waste minimisation encompasses two separate actions;
- Avoiding waste production in the first place
- Re-using items before they are discarded
The good news is that the amount of waste generated across the four Partner Boroughs has gone down in recent years, partly due to the waste minimisation activities of the four councils (as well as the Partnership itself) and partly due to the more challenging economic climate (people buy less when ‘times are tough’, which in turn results in less waste).
The bad news is that the amount of waste generated in the Partner Boroughs is likely to rise again in the years to come as new homes are built in the region and the economy recovers.
The Partnership is committed to reducing the amount of waste each individual household creates so that even as new homes are built, the overall amount of waste does not increase. To achieve this, the four Partner Boroughs will run coordinated waste awareness and education campaigns.
How can you help?
- Shop Smart – try to buy fruit and vegetables loose rather than in packaging and only buy what you are going to use. We throw away about a third of the food we buy www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.
- Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by contacting the Mail Preference Service: www.mpsonline.org.uk and e-mailing your name and address to the Royal Mail Opt Out service.
- Say ‘no’ to plastic bags – take your own reusable bag or use supermarket ‘bag for life’ schemes
- Buy refills for products such as hand soap and washing powder and avoid disposable batteries – buy rechargeable ones instead
- Join the growing band of parents who are using cloth nappies for their babies Kingston Merton real nappies / Croydon real nappies / www.sutton.gov.uk
- Donate left-over paint to your local charity – www.communityrepaint.org.uk.
- Contact your local Furniture Re-use Network – they distribute unwanted furniture and household good to those in need.
