Waste reduction

There are many ways in which we can all help to reduce unnecessary waste and increase our recycling, so why not try the following:

Buy eggs in recyclable cardboards or plastic cartons, not polystyrene.
Buy drinks and alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles or glass and Tetra Pak containers to one of our Recycling sites.
Buy pasta, tea, cereal in cardboard rather than plastic packaging.
Buy all fruit and vegetables without an extra plastic bag, if paper bags are available use these instead.
Avoid double-bagging your shopping.
Say NO to plastic bags and use recyclable bags, remember to take them with you when shopping to load straight in to.
Reuse envelopes and wrapping paper where possible.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Avoid junk mail - contact MPS, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ or visit www.mpsonline.org.uk (opens in a new window) or call 0845 703 4599.
Buy goods manufactured from recycled products.

Re-use

Another way to help save on resources is to re-use. Reusing items is not a new science. The public re-use items all the time, but are probably not aware that they are doing it and of the environmental benefits that it has.

Suggestions for re-use are:

Passing on clothes to relatives, friends or charity shops.
Using items for arts and crafts.
Selling useful items such as working electrical goods rather than disposing of them.
Re-use carrier bags when shopping.
Remodel items such as cutting the bottom off a plastic "pop" bottle and use it as a mini cloche for seeds or a funnel for re-filling bird feeders.
Use boxes, cartons, bottles and jars for storing household items.
Use real nappies rather than disposable ones.
Home Compost your kitchen and Garden Waste.

Recycling

A large quantity of rubbish can be recycled.

A simple way to achieve this is through our comprehensive kerbside recycling collection services for dry recyclables and our garden waste service. We also provide a large number of recycling sites across the borough where you can take materials for recycling.