Waste Minimisation
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Can You Help Reduce Cheshire's Waste? Here are eight ways to slim your bin and help to reduce Cheshire’s growing waste-line! |
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Use Real Nappies
- 36 million disposable nappies are disposed of every year in Cheshire
- modern reusable nappies not only cut down on the amount of waste in your bin but are also cheaper
- laundry services are available
- More information is available on our Real Nappy website
Compost your garden and vegetable waste
- we can provide you with a home composter at a subsidised cost
- avoid using cooked food, cat or dog litter and persistent weeds
- make sure there is a good mix of green (moist) and brown (drier) materials
- adding layers of soil will speed up the process, but you should expect it to take at least 6 months
- finally, don’t let your compost dry out!
Choose products with as little packaging as possible
- buy unpackaged produce
- buy products with as little packaging as possible, for example concentrated food products
- buy in bulk where possible, this will save you money and cut down on packaging
- alternatively, only buy what you need, avoiding unnecessary purchases.
Stop junk mail
Choose re-usable bags and refillable containers or bottles
Use a Bag for Life - reuse bags.
- use one of Cheshire's reusable 'bags for life' when shopping and for carrying goods. These are available from all Cheshire County Council libraries at a cost of £2.
- re-use plastic bags or boxes by taking them to the supermarket when you go shopping. Some supermarkets give cash-back on each plastic bag re-used.
- use a shopping bag or buy an ‘everlasting bag’, available from most supermarkets
Choose refillable containers or bottles
- try to buy refills rather than repeatedly buying heavily packaged products such as plastic spray dispensers, or fabric softener bottles
- buy milk in returnable bottles from your milkman
- store food in re-sealable containers rather than in cling wrap or foil
- use lunchboxes, flasks or refillable bottles instead of wrappers and drinks cans
Buy to last!
- when buying goods such as light bulbs and batteries try to buy long-life or rechargeable ones - this will be cheaper in the long run
- switch off electric lights and appliances when they are not being used - this will help them to last longer and save you money
- avoid disposable goods such as razors
- have electrical items and furniture repaired rather than buying new ones
Support local charities, schools and community groups whilst minimising waste
- clothes, toys, books or other household items can all be re-used by local charity shops
- there are a number of local schemes to find homes for your unwanted furniture or electrical items - try your local furniture charity!
- use free ads or car boot sales to sell your unwanted goods - someone else might be able to re-use them
- unwanted magazines will be appreciated at your local doctor’s or dentist’s surgery
Hire or Share
- equipment or tools for special or one-off jobs can be hired locally. Look in your telephone directory
- specialist gardening or DIY equipment can be shared with your friends or neighbours, or hired within a group
- the Cheshire Library Service provides you not just with a constantly changing supply of books and magazines, but also videos, DVD’s and CD’s
By doing ALL of these things, household rubbish - and the cost of dealing with it - could be cut by 50%!
Waste Homepage
Waste & Planning Service, Backford Hall, Chester CH1 6PX Map General Enquiries Tel: 01244 603000 Fax: 01244 603746 waste@cheshire.gov.uk |
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