Waste less on waste

February 2009

Image of piggybank being squeezed by a clamp Here are some tips to cut down on your waste collection bills and save the environment too. Recycling, composting and cutting down on packaging that you buy will not only save your waste charges but will really help the environment - and can benefit others who might need what you are throwing out.

Our landfill sites are becoming full yet our waste is increasing. Recycling reduces the energy required to make new products, cuts down on the waste going into landfill sites, conserves resources such as trees and water, and protects wildlife habitats such as forests.

Recycling

It is possible to recycle so many things nowadays, so think twice before throwing anything in the bin. Paper, tetrapacks, tins and cans can all be recycled in your green bin/bag collection.

Or you can bring them to your local bring centre, which will also take glass, plastic, batteries, light bulbs, clothes and textiles, and garden waste.

There are bottle banks for glass in many school, supermarket and church car parks. Some bring centres and larger recycling centres will also take certain types of electrical equipment such as computers, televisions and fridges as well as hazardous waste.

It is also possible to recycle everything from used toner cartridges to mobile phones, either in your local recycling centre or by returning them to the manufacturer.

How to recycle

Check the label on your green bin or green bag to find out what you can recycle in your waste collection.

Find out from your local authority where your nearest recycling centres are. Check the Web for free recycling websites for larger items such as bikes, furniture, electronic goods and sporting equipment.

Composting

A compost bin or compost heap is a great way to get rid of biodegradable matter such as kitchen and garden waste. The waste is turned into compost by being broken down by bacteria, at high temperatures, and turning it into garden fertiliser and soil enricher.

Composting reduces waste going to landfill, saves you money on waste collection charges, and you can produce a free, high quality fertiliser for your plants or garden

You can either start your own compost heap, or some local authorities provide "brown" compost bins collections for organic waste. A wormery (vermicomposting) is another type of home composting

Things that can go into a compost bin or compost heap include:

Garden waste - leaves, wood chips, plant material, grass cuttings, weeds
Some paper and cardboard (such as corrugated cardboard or newsprint with soy-based inks)
Fruit and vegetable peel, eggshells
Coffee grounds, tea leaves and tea bags
Wood or peat ash

Don't use waste from meat, fish or dairy products, or any other foodstuffs that are likely to attract pests, or coal or barbeque ash (which have been chemically treated and will chemically contaminate your compost).

Check with your local authority or environmental organisation for a full list of tips on composting.

Free recycling websites

To get rid of larger items such as furniture, electronic and sports equipment and clothing, see if your local charity is interesting in accepting them.

Some local authorities have periodic waste collections for large items such as furniture and household goods, and there are a number of websites such as Freecycle and Jumbletown, where you can put up a photo and description of an item you are offering for free, and someone will come and take it away.

Electrical goods

Under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations, you can bring back waste electrical or electronic equipment to a retailer, if you have bought a new one to replace it.

For example, if you buy a new toaster to replace a broken one, you can bring back the broken one to the retailer within a certain time limit. For larger items such as washing machines, you can have them collected by the retailer. You can also bring unwanted WEEE material to your local civic amenity centre for recycling.

Waste waiver schemes

You might be eligible to have your waste collection charges reduced or waived, if your income is below a certain limit or you are in receipt of social welfare benefit. Check with your local authority what waiver schemes apply to your area.

Other tips

Besides recycling anything that you can, further ways of reducing waste include:

Buying recycled goods - for example paper which is made from recycled paper
Buying things with less packaging - for example, loose fruit rather than fruit packaged in plastic
Trying not to buy items which have excessive packaging

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