Top tips

Recycle with the British Red Cross. Donate your old mobile phones and printer cartridges and generate up to £30 to help us be there for people in crisis. Visit www.recross.org.uk/recycle for more information or to order a freepost envelope

If you know anyone who makes jam or marmalade they might be glad of your washed empty jam jars (and might even give you a jar of jam in exchange?)

Shredded paper is perfect for the green waste or compost bin. It absorbs the moisture of the waste; bits don't fly around as they do if placed in paper recycling; your documents are safely disposed of!

Plastic takeaway containers make perfect sandwich boxes for school or work!

Keep reusable shopping bags near the front door so you remember to take them to the shops

I have a large bin and a small bin in my kitchen - the small one is for rubbish and the large one is for recycling, to remind me that most of what I used to put in the bin could actually be recycled

Keep old toothbrushes for cleaning things rather than just throwing them away

Only buy products in packaging you know you can recycle

Rinse recyclables before putting them in your recycle box / bag

Buy or make a bird table so that your stale bread avoids landfill and helps local wildlife

When you're painting, cut a plastic drinks bottle in half and use the bottom part for cleaning your paintbrush

Find out about your local Freecycle group if you have unwanted items you want to give away