Waste
Clothing
Where possible, it is important to reduce waste by considering ways to upcycle and reuse where possible.
Find tips to upcycle, reuse and donate clothing.
Household items
When disposing waste, it is important to do so using the appropriate channels. Use the following link for advice on how to dispose of different household items.
Single Use Plastics
In London, plastic makes up approximately 9 percent of the household waste stream (by weight) with plastic packaging accounting for nearly 70 percent of this. Most plastic packaging is single use (2017 National household waste composition report).
Everybody is encouraged to reduce their single use plastic and play their part in reducing unnecessary and problematic plastics.
Instead carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup and use the Refill app to find a place to fill up your water bottle for free when you are out and about. Many cafes, restaurants and bars are also happy to refill your bottle too.
Further information can be found here Single-use plastic bottles | London City Hall.
More detailed information is also available, visit Single-use Plastic | Keep Britain Tidy.
Food waste
Reducing your food waste is another way to save money and live more sustainably. The average UK family spends £730 annually on food that is thrown in the bin (WRAP, 2018), but we can do more to reduce the food we waste unnecessarily.
Tips include:
- Creating a meal plan so you know what food you need for the week.
- Taking stick of your pantry and creating a shopping list to avoid overbuying food.
- Buying "ugly" foods; you may be supporting local farmers; they are often cheaper, and it avoids less than perfect looking products going to waste.
- Remember that the “use-by” date is about safety and the “best before” date is about quality; it is still safe to consume food after the “best before” date. Visit here for further details.
- Store food appropriately; for example, berries, citrus fruits, and apples will last longer in the fridge. Please view the food storage and recipe A-Z for how to store various foods.
- Set your fridge temperature between 0 and 5 degrees centigrade.
- Save and eat leftovers.
- Donate surplus food through Olio to avoid wasting fresh food and vegetable.
- Compost any food that cannot be eaten.
For more tips on food wate reduction, visit the following websites:
Composting
Composting is a great way to save food and plant waste from landfill. Composting is the recycling of plant and kitchen waste as a fertiliser and soil amendment. Compost improves soil by returning organic matter to the soil and improves drainage and water retention.
Water
Water Saving
Water is a precious resource that we should take care to conserve, especially as hotter summers and drier winters affect our supply. Reducing your water usage can help minimise water bills. Around 18 per cent of energy used in homes is spent on heating water.
Follow the tips to reduce your water usage and bills:
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Get a water butt
Water Butts are large containers used to collect and store rainwater. They are co-friendly as they make use of water that would otherwise go into your drain, and you can have a ready supply of water for gardening even if there is a hosepipe ban in place due to summer drought.
Find out how to get a water butt for your home
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Fix leaks
Fixing leaks at water points in your home such as sinks, showers and loos can reduce water wastage. On average, a leaky loo could cost you an extra £100 annually (ThamesWater).
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Turn of the tap
Remember to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. A running tap uses up to 9 litres of water a minute.
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Install a water meter
Having a water meter installed may benefit you if you don’t use much water.
Find out more information about changing to a water meter.
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Water saving devices
Many water companies will provide free or discounted water saving devices for you to reduce the water usage in your home and save on your bills.
Examples of water saving devices include twin tap savers, leaky loo strips, cistern bag and shower savers.