Reduce, re-use, recycle

Reduce, re-use and recycle are known to the world as the three Rs.

You can add Rethink and Refuse to the list to make an even bigger difference to reducing your personal impact on the environment.

Rethink

There are many ways to rethink the amount and type of waste you create:

• Every time you throw something into your general waste bin, think about whether there is a better way to get rid of it or avoid it the next time.
• Have a look at what's going in the bin to see where your waste is coming from and what you're throwing out.
• Plan your meals to use items before they go out of date. You'll save money and reduce waste.
• See whether your trash could be treasure for someone else. For example, if your food scraps are going in the bin, there might be a gardener or someone with chickens who wants your organic waste.
• Look for products that use recycled materials or are recyclable. This way you'll know that you're helping to keep useful materials and metals out of landfill.
• When choosing products or services, consider what went into making that product or delivering that service. Products from overseas travel a long way - a similar product from a local supplier can reduce your impact on the environment.

Refuse

If you can refuse things you don't need you can prevent a lot of waste going to landfill. A simple refusal can also show others that you value our resources and the environment.

Some simple ways to do this include:

• If you don't read advertising mail, put a sign on your letterbox.
• Refuse plastic bags if you don't need them. Keep re-usable bags handy so you remember to take them to the shops with you.

Reduce

There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce, including the following:

• Reduce your use of disposable products where possible. Items designed to be used again and again are usually much better for the environment.
• Buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging you collect. Most times buying in bulk will also save you money.
• Choose products without excessive packaging. Many products need packaging but some have more than is needed.
• Choose concentrated products or refillable containers to keep a lot of waste out of landfill.

Re-use

When you re-use items you've bought they become more cost-effective. Not only do you save money, you'll also save the materials for making products and the waste at the end of their use.

Some simple ways to re-use items:

• A lot of food comes in containers that are great for storage. Wash glass pasta sauce and baby food jars and give them a second life by using them to store food or things like buttons and nails. You can also give glass jars to friends, family or groups who make jams.
• Swap household items, furniture, plants, clothes, food, books with friends and family rather than throwing them away. This can save you all a lot of money as well as reduce waste.
• Keep re-usable bags in handy places such as your handbag, briefcase, backpack, boot or glove box.
• If you ride a bike, you could take your panniers into the shops with you and use them as your re-usable bags.

Recycle

Make sure only the items accepted for recycling go in your recycling bin. This differs between local government areas. If you don't have a list of what you can put into your recycling bin, contact your local council. Your council will also be able to tell you if you should wash the recyclables before they go in the bin.

See if appliances and furniture can be repaired instead of replaced. Charities and specialist repair services might want your broken goods to turn into recycled goods.

Find out what drop-off and recycling facilities are available in your local area. Your local council may collect other items for recycling, including mobile phones and printer cartridges.

If you have chemical waste or building waste, check with your local council for safe ways to dispose of these.

Share this page

• Email a friend

Get instant updates

Subscribe to RSS updates (What is RSS?)