Reducing your waste

We are currently recycling and composting more of our waste across the city. However with the amount of waste we are producing increasing every year we need to try and reduce and reuse our waste.  This section explains why we need to reduce our waste and easy steps we can all take to reduce and reuse the waste we produce.
 
 

Increasing waste - why do we have to act?

Reduce Landfill we can no longer continue to landfill our waste in the ground!  Landfill sites are running out and we have strict targets to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.  Waste in landfill sites releases methane emissions which are more harmful than carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming and climate change. 
 
Save Energy Reducing and re-using materials saves energy required to produce new products.
 
Future Reduce, re-use and recycle your waste and save natural resources for future generations.
 
Pollution The production and manufacturing of new products causes pollution to our environment. 
 
Cost An increase in waste we produce means an increase cost in waste collections and treatment.
 

Is recycling not enough?

Recycling our waste is a very important thing that everyone must pay their part in and continue to do.  However with the amount of waste we are producing increasing, we must try to reduce and re-use our waste aswell. 
 
As consumers and waste producers we along with, manufacturers and retailers can make informed choices and simple steps to reduce and re-use our waste. 
 

Waste aware shopping

Being waste aware when we are shopping is something which we can all do to help reduce the amount of waste we produce and also to save us money.  As consumers we have great powers to take simple steps to help reduce our waste.  Try adopting some of the following suggestions when you are out shopping;
 
Avoid packaging over 40% of the waste in our bins is retail packaging.  Although manufacturers have guidelines to reduce the amount of packaging they produce, we can make choices whilst shopping to reduce the packaging we purchase and throw away. 
 
Try buying products with less packaging such as loose fruit and vegetables and fresh produce rather than pre-packaged goods.  Packaging costs money and therefore pushes up the price of goods. 
 
Buying bulk products or family size products such as toilet / kitchen rolls, washing powders, teabags, pet food etc can save money and creates less packaging in the long run.
 
Buy recycled!  Buy recycled products (toilet / kitchen roll, bin bags etc) or products packaged in material which has been recycled.  This will potentially encourage manufacturers to demand more recycled materials to make them from.
 
Can you recycle it?  To save packaging being thrown away have a look and see if you can buy the same product in packaging which you can easily recycle.
 
Avoid disposable products such as batteries, cameras, barbeques, razors and nappies.  Think about buying products which are more durable and will last longer such as rechargeable batteries, reusable razors or reusable cloth nappies.
 
Write a shopping list and plan meals, it'll save you throwing away food and money.  Around 20% of the food we buy off supermarket shelves goes straight in the bin.  By planning meals and writing a shopping list you will only buy what you need and can reduce the food and packaging you throw away.    
 
Buying refill goods such as washing, cleaning and beauty products.  They are cheaper and allow you to reuse the original container.
 

Stop junk mail

An average of 18 pieces of junk mail goes to each household per week in the UK, which is equivalent to 3.3 million trees.  Stopping unwanted junk mail being delivered to our homes is a way we can all help reduce the amount of waste produced in the UK.
 
To prevent junk mail being delivered to our homes you can register with the Mail Preference Service.  Registration is free and you could see up to 1/3 less junk mail coming through your door.
 
You can register online through www.mpsonline.org.uk or by telephone on 0845 703 4599.
 
What else you can do to stop mail which is not addressed to you;
 
  • You can write to your local Royal Mail sorting office requesting that unaddressed mail is not delivered to your property.
  • If you receive junk mail addressed to previous residents of your house, you can register their names with your address to the Mail Preference Service.
  • You can place a note on your door or post-box requesting that leaflets, flyers and catalogues are not to be left on your doorstep or put through your letterbox.
Peterborough City Council. Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1QT - (01733) 747474 - DX12310 Peterborough 1