29 Aug 6 Ways to Minimise Household Waste
In the UK alone, over 27 million tons of household waste was produced in 2020, which is an increase of 2.1% from 2019. In addition, only 12 million tons of this was recycled, which is equivalent to 44% and a 2% decrease from the previous year. However, thinking about the types of products that we buy and how we dispose of them, can dramatically reduce the amount of rubbish that we produce in our homes.
It is now more important than ever to do our bit for the environment. Indaver would like to give you some ideas for small changes that you can make in your household that will have a beneficial, long-lasting effect on the environment and help minimise household waste.
Re-use Plastic Items
In the UK, a total of 7.7 billion plastic bottles are purchased each year, resulting in a substantial amount of single-use plastic waste. Astoundingly, over 700,000 plastic bottles are littered every day, causing damage to human well-being as well as natural habitats. However, there are ways to reduce this shocking figure.
Purchasing a large re-usable water bottle or flask is a much healthier option and a great way to save money. These can be re-filled numerous times to stay hydrated throughout the day as well as reduce your chances of buying a more expensive drink whilst you’re out. Whilst most cans and bottles can be recycled, they require a lot energy to be produced, transported to the facility and then to the shops for purchase.
Reusable plastic containers are also an excellent way to store food, such as pasta, rice and cereals. In addition, they can also extend the lifespan of these foods. Alternatively, a container could be used to store a packed lunch to take to school or work, instead of wasteful plastic bags or clingfilm.
Compost Organic Waste
Did you know that as much as 25% of your rubbish could potentially be composted? Composting is a great way to reduce food waste and other organic material going to landfill, where it could release harmful gases into the atmosphere. However, when composted in your garden, waste can decompose naturally as it remains above ground with access to fresh air. This means that within a year, you could have natural fertiliser to use for your plants and improve soil quality, as well as a method that has helped to minimise household waste.
Meal Plan
Planning your meals ahead of time will save a considerable amount of food going to waste, as well as money in the long-term. Creating meal plans enables you to purchase the exact amount of food that you will need, which reduces the amount of food wasted.
Donate Items
Rather than simply discarding items such as furniture or clothes, you could pass on your unwanted items to others or a charity to be used again. Some people may be able to re-purpose some of your items, for example old newspapers or cardboard could be donated to a local school for arts and crafts material.
Prior to purchasing a new item, it might be worth considering buying second-hand. This can help you to save a considerable amount of money, support local charities and the community, as well as minimise household waste that would otherwise go to landfill.
Shop Local
Buying online means additional packing and emissions will be produced from the transportation process, however local shops tend to use less packaging as well as have minimal travel requirements.
When you go shopping, try to buy loose vegetables and fruit to avoid using plastic packaging. Another great alternative is the use of a bar of soap or solid shampoo bar, which not only reduces the amount of bathroom plastics, but is also an excellent way to save money as they have an incredibly long lifespan compared to their counterparts.
Another good idea is to buy items in bulk, if possible. For example, cleaning products, cereal or toilet rolls, can be bought in bulk to help reduce the amount of wasted packaging. This is usually also a cheaper alternative and tends to save time and travel costs, as you would need to purchase these products less often.
Reduce Paper Use
In today’s digital society, most companies offer receipts by email, which are very helpful if you are prone to losing the paper copy! Nowadays, most companies are also offering bills to be sent via email, and some even offer an incentive to use this method. Magazines often also have digital subscriptions available that allow you to read on your computer or tablet. These are often cheaper than the hard-copy and are a great way to minimise household waste.
Contact Us
If you would like to find out more about how we support the local community to help minimise waste or you’re interested in our sustainable waste management services, then please get in touch today! Our team can be contacted via email at info@rivenhall-iwmf.co.uk or call us on 01279 311440.