Waste and Recycling

Taking action on waste is essential. We are consuming natural resources at an unsustainable rate and contributing unnecessarily to climate change.

Throwing things away wastes resources. It wastes the raw materials and energy used in making the items and it wastes money. If we can reduce our waste, it means less environmental impact, less resources and energy used, and saves money.

Each year we generate about 100 million tonnes of waste from households, commerce and industry combined. Most of this currently ends up in landfill, where biodegradable waste generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. And much valuable energy is used up in making new products which are later disposed of, so also contributing to climate change.  Each household produces about 1 tonne of rubbish annually, amounting to about 27 million tonnes for the UK each year. The amount is increasing and that people produce waste is a fact of life we cannot change. However, we can change how much we produce, how we manage it and what we do with it. Managing waste in a sustainable way, optimising recycling and re-use, as well as limiting production, forms a core part of Government policy to protect the environment.

The government is committed to reducing the amount of waste we create and local authorities run recycling schemes but the proportion of municipal waste being recycled or composted remains a small percentage  approximately one third, of the overall total.

Wastewatch estimate that at least half of the contents of our dustbins could potentially be recycled. In addition, we could compost the 20% of vegetable peelings and other organic waste that we throw away. Despite this potential to recycle or compost around 60% - 70% of our waste, we are only recycling or composting 12%. A total of 80% of municipal waste is landfilled and 8% is incinerated to produce energy.

Preventing Waste at Source

The Women’s Environment Network Waste prevention campaign focuses on preventing waste at source, rather than recycling. They have developed and promote a wide range of waste-avoiding goods and services such as composting, refills, repair shops, reduced packaging and leasing schemes.

Recycling is only one aspect of waste reduction. There are other steps which can be taken, and think about only recycling things if you are sure they cannot be repaired or reused.

Reducing Waste

Refuse:

• Don't buy things you don't need.
• Avoid disposable products, designed to be thrown away.
• Don't buy overpackaged goods.

Reduce:

• Buy things that are well made and will last.
• Buy things in returnable containers - and return the containers once empty.
• Concentrated products give you more active ingredient but make sure you do not use too much - follow the instructions.
• Buying in bulk - if you have the money and storage space and need the goods - reduces the amount of packaging.

• Try to avoid buying over-packaged goods.  (and nobble the store owners where you feel they are offering goods in unnecessary packaging)
• Try to avoid using sellotape to package your gifts as sellotape prevents paper from being recyled.  Use twine or string instead.
• Taking your own shopping bag means you don't need to use plastic carrier bags.
• Disposable nappies are bulky and difficult to dispose of. Try using reusable washable nappies instead, or disposables with a paper outer layer.
• Using rechargeable batteries and recharging electrical appliances will save on batteries.

• The Mailing Preference Service reduces the amount of junk mail you will receive.

Refill:

For some products refill packs can be bought, which use less packaging.

Reuse:

Lots of things can be reused. If you can't reuse them yourself try to find someone else who can.

• Jam-jars and bottles: if you don't make jam/marmalade/preserves/wine find someone who does.
• Plastic carrier bags can be reused several times as shopping bags, can be used to take items to be reused/recycled, and can be used as bin liners.

• Old clothes, books, toys, unwanted gifts and household goods are easy to reuse: give them to a jumble sale or a charity shop.
• Envelopes can be reused with a reuse label (plain or printed) or can be used as scrap paper.

Repair:

• Any items, especially electrical items, can be repaired. There are still specialist repair shops though these may not be easy to find. In some places special schemes have been set up which create work for people by collecting and refurbishing second-hand electrical equipment and furniture.

• If you have things which cannot be reused, repaired or recycled please dispose of them carefully. Do not throw garden and household chemicals, or paint, or engine oil, down the drain. Don't use the toilet to dispose of waste. If in doubt about how to dispose safely of something, contact your local authority waste disposal department.