Why do it?

It seems everything is disposable these days! Disposal items such as pens, bags, razors, dusters and nappies all create more rubbish that just gets sent to landfill. Throwing things away creates a big financial and environmental burden for us all.

The best way to help prevent this is to remember: Repairable, Reusable, Refillable, Rechargeable!

  • Almost 65% of our rubbish in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough just gets buried in the ground, when at least 60% could have been recycled - what a waste!
  • Recycling is only part of the solution to the issue of waste - recycling doesn't reduce the amount of rubbish produced but it does send it for a more useful purpose.
  • Reducing and reusing is actually what we should be doing first before recycling but how we can do it often isn't so obvious. Stopping waste being produced in the first place is the most important thing we can do and is always the best option.

What does reduce and reuse mean?

Reducing and reusing helps reduce the rubbish we bury in the ground.

  • Reduction is sometimes referred to as "Minimisation" and means reducing the amount of rubbish you generate and throw in your bin for your Council to collect.
  • Reusing means thinking if you can use something again for the same or another purpose before throwing it into the bin.

How can I Reduce and Reuse?

The guide below gives suggestions of easy actions that we can take to make a real difference. Please see our Smart Shopper page to find out more.

1) Bags of bags

Reuse your shopping bags! Really simple and something everyone can do.

  • Instead of picking up new ones, just take back ones you got last time (you will soon get into the habit of remembering to take them)
  • Buy bags for life and use them each time
  • Request a reusable cotton shopping bag by filling in the feedback form on the site and use it each time

2) Reduce Packaging

  • Reuse your carrier bags
  • Buy fruit and veg loose instead of putting it in bags and buying pre-packed goods. (Better still, grown you own, buy from local markets or have a veg box delivered to your home)
  • Try to buy goods with less packaging on them and when it is unavoidable look for packaging you can recycle locally
  • Bulk buy goods where possible
  • Look for goods, such a fabric conditioners that use refillable containers.

3) Choose durable and reusable items

  • Spend a little more and buy goods with a longer life span or that can be repaired. It will stop items being thrown away after only a few years (or months!)
  • Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger. (Batteries are very toxic in landfills)
  • Choose Real nappies instead of disposable ones. There are so many to choose from and you can ask for a free trail to find what best suits you and your baby. See our Real Nappy page for more information.

4) Home compost

  • Buy a home compost bin. The council may provide a collection for composting but the best thing to do is to make compost at home. There are also financial benefits as it avoids the collection and treatment of waste (that you pay for through your council tax) and it saves you buying compost as you have a free supply. See our home compost page for more information
  • Composting of garden food waste is also an easy way to stop climate change. If this bio-degrable material goes to landfill it produces methane, which contributes to climate change.

5) Reuse Envelopes

Reusing envelopes is often done in offices, but can be done at home as well.

You can buy reuse label to help you do this. (See www.recyclenow.com) Next time you receive some mail in a sturdy envelope, such as a jiffy bag, use it again and save a bit of money too!

6) Use charity shops, community groups and our Swap and Sell!

Charity Shops Charity shops are an ideal place to find something you need on a budget and are a good way to ensure your unwanted goods don't go to waste. They stock loads of stuff from clothes, shoes, books, kitchenware and so much more. To find out where your local shops are go to www.charityshops.org.uk

Swap and Sell Our swap and sell website is a free service for the residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Don't just throw it away, see if you can swap it or sell it! swapandsell.recap.co.uk

Donate it. Don't Dump it! There are plenty of community recycling and reuse organisations in the area that may be able to take your unwanted items. Visit our community network page.