Reduce
'Reduce' means to try and use less stuff. If we all make less rubbish, there will be less of a problem. Reducing our rubbish is the best way to deal with our waste.
Reducing the amount of rubbish we throw away means thinking before we buy things: 'Do we really need it?’ There are many things we might like to have, but how many things do we really need?? Can the item we want to buy be used again? Thinking like this can save us money and if we buy things from charity shops, or recycling centres, it makes less waste and is better for everybody. Most things need energy to make them, if we can keep using them for as long as possible instead of throwing them away and using new ones, we save energy and resources.
Many of us need help in reducing our waste and changing how we live our lives. Adults can find this very difficult because they have to change what they may have been doing for years. It is important for you to spread the word to encourage people to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.
Reducing waste at home
To find out how much rubbish you and your family produce, try doing a waste audit and collect all your rubbish over one week. Separate out the recycling and compostables and see what is left. You could make a collage or sculpture, which would help to remind you and your family how much rubbish you all produce.
Try and get everyone in your house to 'Reduce', 'Reuse', 'Recycle' and 'Compost' as much of your waste as possible over the next week and then do another waste audit to see if there is any difference in the amount.
We can all reduce the amount of waste we throw away or 'slim our bins' if we:-
Avoid using disposable items which are designed to be used once or twice such as paper plates. Another example is batteries – try to use rechargeable batteries instead, and choose things that will last a long time.
Buy things with less packaging e.g. loose fruit and vegetables that don’t come in a plastic punnet with plastic film wrapped around them. Some packaging is useful because it protects the item that you are buying, but try to avoid unnecessary packaging.
Say no to plastic bags – remind your family to take reusable bags whenever you go shopping.
Buying in large sizes, otherwise know as ‘in bulk’. Not only does this cut down on waste, but it will often save you money too. For example, one large carton contains the same amount of fruit juice as six small cartons, but uses much less packaging.
Try to buy concentrated products, such as laundry liquids. This means they have less liquid and more of the washing product in them, therefore there is less to package
And remember ....only buy what you really need! ‘Buy one get one free’ (BOGOF) offers are not good value if you don't really need the extra items or you are unable to use it before it goes out of date.
What else can you do to reduce waste at home?
Reducing waste at school
Wastewatch say that schools waste is made up of the following:
56% Paper and card
3% Metal
3% Glass
16% Plastic
18% Food and green waste
4% Other
This table shows that most schools waste is paper and card, but how can this be reduced?
• Make sure you do double sided printing and photocopying.
Think before you print something? Do you really need to print it?
• You could set up an ‘eco police’ team to monitor if the paper in the recycling bins has been used on both sides. You can also check other environmental issues in each of the class rooms such as: have the computer monitors or lights been left on? You can then tell the rest of the school in an assembly what you have found by naming and shaming certain classrooms.
• Encourage teachers to save documents onto the computer rather than printing them out on paper.
• Ask teachers to send information and newsletters to your adults at home by email and put other information on your website.
• Use notice boards and displays around the school, or do an assembly to encourage people to keep thinking about what they can do with their waste
