Reducing household waste

Recycling is important as it reduces the amount of rubbish that needs to be disposed of, but recycling still involves the use of transport and energy. A better solution is to reduce the amount of waste you produce in the first place.

• Buy what you can recycle. If you can’t recycle plastic, for example, but can recycle glass bottles, look for drinks in glass bottles.

• Don’t buy disposable or one-use products, like razors, face wipes, plastic cutlery, paper plates, disposable cameras, single-use barbeques and kitchen paper towels – use cloths you can wash instead, razors that you can buy new blades for, plates and cutlery that can be washed and reused.

• If you take garden waste to your local Reuse and Recycling Centre for composting, use reusable bags instead of black bin liners. You can buy these at garden centres and in some stores. Not only do they save waste but they are much easier to fill and empty.

• If you have a baby then consider using 'real' nappies instead of disposable ones. These are now available in high street stores and even if you use them just some of the time it will make a real difference to the amount of waste your family produces. Around 50 per cent of the waste generated by a household with a baby is made up of nappies!

• Fed up with all the Direct Mail (often called 'junk mail') coming through your door? - then sign up to the Mailing Preference Service. This service removes your name from the mailing list of companies who send out direct mail. Within a few months you will notice the reduction in the amount of mail landing on your doormat.