Minimising your waste

For this reason, reduction and re-use is positioned at the top of the Waste Hierarchy (the range of waste management options available). Minimising waste benefits the environment in two main ways. Firstly, fewer raw materials are required to manufacture the item in the first place, whether that is oil, wood, iron ore etc, and this helps to preserve limited resources. Secondly, the volume of waste requiring disposal will be reduced because some wastes will never enter the waste stream. This will prevent the impacts of land-filling that waste.       

To reduce our waste we should think about what we buy and consume. By exercising our consumer power and choosing the ‘greener’ option, or choosing not to buy certain products at all, we may be able to influence manufacturers into becoming more ‘WasteAware’. Re-use is the second stage of the Waste Hierarchy and involves extending the useful life of an item by using it again in its original form, or repairing an item so it can be used again, for example repairing a punctured bicycle tyre. 

Reduce and repair guidelines

• Make a list - only buy what you need!
• Avoid packaging all together if possible, or avoid buying items that are unnecessarily over-packaged, or opt for items in more easily recyclable packaging
• Avoid disposables and opt for those items that can be used again
• Buy refills so you can refill your containers
• Repair and revamp items rather than replacing them with new
• Donate, exchange or sell unwanted items
• Hire or borrow items that you rarely use
• Use durable items instead of cheaper versions; these will save you money in the long run as you won’t have to replace them as often

A-Z - ideas to slim your bin!

Batteries - Reduce the number of batteries you throw away by using rechargeable batteries - they last approximately 500 times longer than normal batteries! This also helps to reduce the amount of hazardous metals, such as cadmium, nickel and mercury, in the waste stream.  

Bottled water - Buy a water filter instead of buying bottles of mineral water. This will reduce waste and save you money!    

Carrier bags - Re-use plastic bags when you go shopping or as bin liners. Even better, buy strong, reusable bags – bags for life – and reject carrier bags.

CDs - Old, unplayable CDs can be used as reflectors for gateposts or as bird scarers.

Charity shops - Charitable organisations may be able to find new homes for unwanted clothes, books, furniture and quality bric-a-brac.

Clothes - Worn or badly damaged clothes can be cut up and used as rags for cleaning.

Disposables – Avoid disposable products such as tissues, nappies, serviettes, paper plates and cups, dishcloths and cameras. Instead use reusable items.

Energy – Most of the energy we use is obtained from the burning of fossil fuels. This contributes towards global warming and consumes valuable resources. Think about your energy use and reduce what you use by, for example, not leaving electrical items on standby and insulating your home – this will also save you money!

Envelopes - Re-use envelopes by putting a sticky label over the original address and re-addressing.

Furniture - As well as providing safe, clean, affordable furniture and essential household items to those who need it, furniture re-use schemes often realise social benefits by providing opportunities and support to people wanting to develop skills in the workplace. Often local schemes and charities will often accept a range of household items (please check what your local charity will accept). Below are the details of two local projects.

Etcetera 

If you have unwanted furniture or small electrical items, the Etcetera charity shop would be pleased to receive them. Etcetera is affiliated to the Connect Club, which helps people managing a mental health problem. Also accepted are working PCs, beds and bedding, curtains, household goods, clothes and shoes, bric-a-brac, books, toys, records, tapes, CDs, videos, DVDs and crockery.  If you have any donations please phone Etcetera on 01707 273296, 273294 or call in at 10 High View, Hatfield, Herts AL10 8HZ

Welwyn Hatfield CVS Furniture Scheme

The Welwyn Hatfield Furniture Scheme will collect unwanted items from your home and re-distribute them to people within the local community, who may otherwise struggle to furnish their home. To find out more about donating furniture, receiving furniture or becoming a volunteer please call 01707 395635 or see www.whcvsfs.org.uk.

Collections
Anyone can donate furniture and a free collection service operates within Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and the surrounding villages. Items need to be clean, in good condition and all soft furnishings must comply with the relevant fire safety regulations. They welcome donations of most types of household furniture, particularly white goods, sofas and beds, but there are some items that the scheme will not accept. Please contact the scheme for up-to-date information.

Distribution
If you are in need of furniture contact CVS to find out what they have. You must live in the borough of Welwyn and Hatfield and be in receipt of means tested benefits. A token charge is made for each item to cover costs.

Greetings cards – Use your old Christmas and birthday cards to make gift tags.

Inkjet cartridges – Send your old inkjet cartridges only (no other type of cartridge is accepted) to The Red Cross Inkjet Appeal. Cartridges are reused benefiting the environment and the Red Cross! To obtain a supply of freepost bags please ring 01638 552082, email freepost@redcross.org.uk or simply post them to: Used Inkjet Appeal, FREEPOST NATE223, Newmarket, CB8 7BR.

Junk mail - Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by registering with the Mailing Preference services (for free). Contact them at The Mailing Preference Services, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ or telephone 0207 2913310. Alternatively you can register online at the Mailing Preference Service website. Also you could f ix a polite notice to your door asking for no free newspapers or circulars.    

Magazines – These can be given to friends, donated to hospitals, residential homes or doctors' surgeries.

Nappies – Babies can use approximately 5,000 disposable nappies before potty training and once disposed of, these end up in landfill. Re-usable nappies make considerable environmental and economic savings. The council offers up to £40 cashback for Welwyn Hatfield residents who buy their own re-usable nappies or join a nappy laundering service.

Packaging – Avoid packaging, for example buy loose fruit and vegetables, or look for products that are available in refillable packages (fabric softener, print cartridges), or choose containers that can be used again. For example, old coffee jars make excellent containers for storing small items such as screws. Buy in bulk where possible or buy concentrated products, for example one large bottle of orange squash will produce a lot less waste than buying several individual cartons and save you money.

Packed lunches – Use re-usable containers, for example lunch boxes and flasks, instead of using cling film and aluminium foil. Avoid disposable packaging and individually packaged items. Buy in bulk and transfer as much as you need into small containers. Packed lunches will also save you money.

Paper - Set printers and photocopiers to print documents double-sided. Use paper that has been used on one side as scrap. Also, shredded paper is very difficult to recycle so think before you shred! Do you really need to shred a whole page in the first place? Just remove any sensitive information and recycle the rest. Shredded paper is far better used as animal bedding or can be successfully composted at home.

Parties - Avoid paper plates, plastic cups and the like. Hire or borrow glasses and plates instead.

Plastic packaging – If possible, avoid all unnecessary packaging in the first place. Alternatively, old plastic bottles cut in half make good mini propagators for seedlings, or plastic fruit or vegetable trays can be used as seed trays.

Schools – Often schools or day care centres will be able to find a use for items such as yarn, fabric, small boxes, egg cartons, yoghurt containers and the like in art and design.

Scrapstore – For schools and groups, such as playgroups, Brownies and Cubs, Scrapstores are treasure troves. For a small membership fee, they have access to a range of materials collected from industry and other sources, such as wood, plastic, fabric, paper, card, paint and glue. The Scrapstore is interested in clean, safe materials that can be used in arts and crafts. Welwyn Garden City has its own Scrapstore called ‘Wot-Ever’ at Unit 6 Bridgegate Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Al7 1JG. For further information ring 01707 371719 or see the Scrapstore website.

Storage - Re-use jars, boxes and plastic containers where possible, for example jam jars make excellent pencil pots.

Further ideas!

Welwyn Garden Freecycle Group - Freecycling involves advertising unwanted or unloved possessions on the internet, rather than disposing of them. To find out more about freecycling in the borough, visit Welwyn Garden Freecycle's website.

The Recycling Guide is a colourful website which emphasises the importance of recycling and provides advice on how people can recycle at home and in schools. The site is informative and there is a useful tips section.

Help the Aged can help to recycle, or pass on items suitable for re-use. See their website for more information regarding some unusual items, for example, stamps, mobile phones, foreign currency and toner cartridges.

The Furniture Recycling Network is the umbrella organisation for re-use organisations across the UK.

The Community Recycling Network promotes sustainable community waste projects.

Emmaus is an organisation that provides shelter and work opportunities to people who have become homeless.