Waste Tip of the Month
January: Waste paper?
Reduce waste paper by double sided printing, choosing electronic statements and reducing junk mail (www.stopjunkmail.org.uk). Reuse paper by using the blank sides of paper and junk mail for notes or as kids drawing paper and reuse envelopes by using stickers to blank out the previous address.
February: Unwanted furniture?
Do you have any furniture that you don’t want? Why not consider donating the furniture to ‘Furniture Now’. Furniture Now (www.furniturenow.org.uk) is a registered charity and puts unwanted furniture to good use, to prevent re-usable materials going to waste and to help people in the local area. Contact Furniture Now on 01273 487377 for collection enquiries.
March: Washable Nappies
Nine million nappies end up in UK landfill each year. Why not consider using modern washable nappies and also saving up to £900 for a first child (and even more for the next!). Go to www.goreal.org.uk for more information.
April: Grass clippings
The grass is growing again, time to get out the mower. But grass clippings alone don’t make good compost. Mix with two thirds dry “brown” material such as straw, sawdust (untreated), twigs, newspaper or cardboard. It’s much easier to tear up and mix in the cardboard if it is damp. For more information:
May: Green gardening
There’s lots of ways to re-use common household items in the garden. Cut plastic milk bottles in half and use the top as a mini cloche, the bottom as a slug trap. String up CD’s as bird scarers. Make plant pots from newspaper. Plant a mini herb garden in baked bean tins (remember to make drainage holes).
June: Drought Busters
Buy a rain water butt, you can get them in all sizes, e.g. from Lewes District Council. Save water you’ve washed fruit/vegetables in to water the garden. Wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hosepipe. For more water saving tips: http://www.southernwater.co.uk/microsites/mrSaveIt/introduction.asp
July: Paint
Make sure the lids of partly-used paint tins are on tight, then invert briefly to seal the paint in for future use. Donate unwanted paint to e.g. local charity, youth or church group, college, sports club, neighbour, colleague or friend. Hove Household Waste Recycling Site operates a Community RePaint collecting scheme for leftover paint suitable for domestic application.
August: Reduce food waste
Wasted food costs the average family £420 a year and makes up a large part of the household waste going to landfill. Keep most ripe fruit in the fridge to make it last longer. For more tips on how to keep food fresh for longer, recipe ideas, and other ways to help reduce food waste see http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/.
September: Reduce Packaging Waste
Most plastic food packaging can’t be recycled. Buy fruit and vegetables loose or in paper bags. Use local box schemes (eg Ashurst Organics, 01273 891219) or pick your own. Use reusable lunch boxes; use refillable detergent/liquid soap containers [refill from e.g. Lansdown Health Foods, Cliffe High Street Lewes (01273 474681), or Parkers delivery service, Ditchling (01273-843343)]
October: Recycle odd socks
Use as dusters or gardening gloves. Shred and use as stuffing in toys and draft excluders. Soak in water and place under plant pots to retain moisture. Tie a sock around the outside tap and put a bar of soap inside and use to wash hands after gardening.
November: Useful Dregs
Trouble washing out containers for recycling? Wash out e.g. oily dregs using detergent dregs (washing up liquid, shampoo, shower gel, etc.).
December: Waste-free Christmas presents
Why not consider giving ‘waste-free’ Christmas presents this year? How about giving cinema vouchers, dinners out, and even your time e.g. for babysitting etc.
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