WASTE MINIMISATION
The amount of household waste is said to be increasing at a rate of 3% per year. If this trend continues, by 2020 we would have doubled the amount of rubbish we generate today.
Over three quarters of the UK's waste is sent to landfill sites. Dealing with our rubbish by burying it is unsustainable and in West Sussex there are less than six years left before our landfill sites are full.
What can we do?
By learning to manage our waste more effectively and moving away from a 'throw away' culture.
Remember the 3 Rs: REDUCE, RE-USE and RECYCLE
REDUCE
- Stop junk mail. Contact the Mailing Preference Service to remove your name and address from direct mailing lists. Visit http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/ or email: mps@dma.org.uk or write to MPS, Freepost 29, London W1E 0ZT
- Avoid buying over-packaged items
- Choose loose food rather than pre-packed
- Compost your garden and green waste
- Use real nappies instead of disposables
RE-USE
- Re-use plastic carrier bags or purchase a 'bag for life'
- Buy concentrated and refillable products
- Re-use scrap paper for writing notes etc. Place some next to your telephone
- Buy rechargable items and avoid disposables e.g. batteries, cameras, razors
- Donate unwanted items to charity shops, schools and community groups
- Throwing a party? Hire glasses, crockery, linen etc. See Yellow Pages under catering equipment hire
RECYCLE
- Choose products whose packaging can be recycled
- Compost your organic waste
- Buy products made from recycled materials
- Use your kerbside recycling baskets and Community Recycling Points
- To find your nearest recycling facility, go to "bank locator" and enter your postcode