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Rubbish is big news! Hardly a day passes without a story on the television or in the papers about the need for us to reduce our landfill. More recent stories have focused on Pay as you Throw pilot schemes. There are numerous stories of people having trouble with their fortnightly bin collections or of the confusion over recycling. Then there are stories of proposed incinerators if we do not meet our recycling targets. There are plenty of easy and effective ways to reduce the amount of landfill rubbish your household produces. This will save you having to worry about fortnightly collections, facing big bills if Pay as you Throw comes to your area and helps you do your bit for the environment. 1- Take reusable bags to the shops. Don't be too hard on yourself if you forget initially! It takes time to form a new habit. Why not keep some in the car, in your bag or next to your door keys to remind you? 2- Phone your local council http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm and get up to date with their kerbside collections. Most councils collect paper, tins or glass. Others collect more materials such as plastic bottles and textiles. Find out what yours collects and start using your boxes and bins! 3- Type your postcode in the Recycle Now http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm website and find out what can be recycled near your home. You'll find batteries, cardboard, cooking oil and lots of other recycling facilities available. Some at various recycling banks in your area and some at your local household recycling centre. Combine a trip to one of these places with another errand to save time and fuel. 4- Find out where you can recycle tetrapaks by using the online locator. http://www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk/locator.asp Tetrapaks are the waxed containers that fruit juice, soups and other foods come in. 5- Having a declutter? There is a great site called Snaffle Up http://www.snaffleup.co.uk where you give things away for free. If you have items charity shops won't accept such as electrical items or large pieces of furniture, you can advertise them on the site and someone in your area will come and collect your unwanted goods. One man's trash is another's treasure! You can also request items and view all items that are listed within a certain radius of your home or workplace. 6- Cook from scratch. Even if you work long hours using gadgets such as a bread maker and slow cooker will help you. You can reduce the amount of packaging you buy on pre-packaged food by making your own meals. You can made delicious breads, soups, stews and casseroles in no time at all - it's healthier too! Why not join Snaffle Up http://www.snaffleup.co.uk and see if anyone is offering a time-saving kitchen gadget in your area? 7- Start a compost bin. Feed it your fruit and vegetable peelings and a few months later you'll be rewarded with rich compost. If you're limited on space try a wormery - they are easier to look after than you think! If you have no garden at all, then a bokashi bin is for you. These will even deal with cooked food and bones. 8- Buy items with packaging in mind. Ask yourself - can this packaging be reused (such as a tin), is it recyclable (choose cardboard over plastic for example) or can it be composted? Show manufacturers that you take the environment seriously buy purchasing goods with packaging that will not end up in the landfill. 9- Menu plan. If you plan your meals for the week you will buy less! Don't fall for the Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) offers unless you know you can use everything up. Never shop when you are hungry or all sorts of convenient, high packaged treats will find their way into your trolley! 10- Reduce your junk mail. Sign up for the Mail Preference Service http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr and get in the habit of returning your junk mail to sender. The company have to pay to have the post returned, so you'll soon be removed from their database! If this list feels overwhelming, then just do one step at a time. Take a month to do each step if you need do, safe in the knowledge that by the end of the year your rubbish will be reduced dramatically. |
| Posted: 04/12/2008 00:32:14 Last Updated: 04/12/2008 00:40:29 |
Chick Lit > Lifestyle :: 10 ways to reduce your rubbish and recycle more