Reducing household waste

For tips on reducing household waste, check out the fantastic ‘Waste a Minute series’ on Ansa Environmental Services’ Ansa in the community.

Waste reduction

You can significantly reduce the amount of waste you create by making small changes, for example:

• using your own shopping bags
• avoiding products with unnecessary packaging
• choosing reusable products

Love Food Hate Waste shows practical tips for producing less food waste.

We have listed ideas to help you reduce waste and in most cases save money.

Home composting

Composting at home is an inexpensive and natural process. You can compost your kitchen and garden waste into nutrient rich food for your garden. You can buy compost bins and accessories by visiting Get Composting. Compost produced from the garden bin collections is not available to buy. We use it for local horticulture.

Junk mail

Reducing junk mail reduces the amount of waste paper that has to be disposed of and recycled.

You can help to reduce your junk mail by:

• joining the Mail Preference Service to have your name removed from direct mailing lists, register online at MPS online
• joining the Royal Mail Door to Door service, further details can be found by contacting Royal Mail to reduce unaddressed junk mail.
• displaying a 'No Junk Mail' sticker on your door or mail box
• ticking the box on forms and surveys stating you don’t want to get further information.
• un-subscribing from mailing lists you are not interested in

Rechargeable batteries

It costs you 2p to recharge 4 batteries by the mains, but to buy four new alkaline batteries can cost £4.

You can take used batteries to the store where you purchased  them or to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre where they have a battery bank.

Reuse

You can reuse for example, furniture could be repainted, clothing can be re-styled or you can invest in using reusable nappies. Many local community groups that help with the giving and receiving of free items and there are also many charity shops.

Changing Lives Together

Changing Lives Together collects and redistributes quality furniture and appliances to support low income families. They also support the community by offering work placements to people who otherwise would be out of work.

Reusing clothing and textiles

Textile banks and charity shops take unwanted clothes and textiles, so that they can be reused. You can also repair or alter clothing instead of throwing them away.

Community reuse groups

Freegle

Local volunteers run Freegle, they help with the giving and receiving of free unwanted goods in local communities across the UK. Find your nearest Freegle group.

Freecycle

Freecycle facilitates the giving and getting of items for free to avoid usable items going to landfill.

Community Recycle

Community Recycle includes details of Community Re-use Groups and information on how items can be re-used.

Buy recycled

Buying recycled products helps to create a demand, which in turn helps to make them more economically viable. Recycled products also use less energy to make.

There are many everyday products you can buy that contain recycled materials such as:

• toilet paper
• writing paper
• mouse mats made from recycled tyres
• pencils made from plastic vending cups

To find out more about buying recycled, visit Recycle Now.

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Page last reviewed: 28 March 2022