Recycling is important, but better still is reducing the waste we produce in the first place. We can each make a difference through:
- buying smart and buying less
- reusing and donating products
- repairing items
- upcycling
Waste minimisation
Here are some ideas to help you to reduce the amount of waste you produce. You can make a positive impact on your environment and often save money too.
- get creative in the kitchen by using up food before it goes off and trying out a leftover food recipe
- keep ingredients fresher for longer and check out Love Food Hate Waste’s A-Z guide to food storage
- reduce junk mail by registering to the Mail Preference Service and the Direct Marketing Association ‘Your Preference’ scheme, you can also find information about this on the Recycle Now website
- go paperless - sign up for digital bills and statements and read digital editions of newspapers and magazines
- get in the habit of using a refillable water bottle, you can download the Refill App to to find places offering water refills in Sutton
- buy fruit and vegetables loose and make a meal plan before you go shopping to ensure you only buy what you need
- look out for shops like Zero Waste Sutton where you can buy vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, oils, beauty and cleaning products that are not overly-packaged
- try reusable nappies, we offer a £35 cashback scheme to get you going.
- refashion and upcycle your old clothes with tips and advice from Love Your Clothes
- take a packed lunch to work - it’s cheaper, often tastier and reduces packaging waste
Feeling inspired? For lots more tips on how to become a zero waste hero, visit the London Recycles website.