What can I do?

The first step is to create less waste in the first place. Choosing products with less packaging, using shopping bags again and again, and asking for paperless bills are all small actions that make a big difference.

Planning meals carefully can cut down on food waste, while switching off lights and unused electronics saves energy. Even simple changes like walking or cycling to school, shopping locally, or growing your own vegetables can reduce pollution and your household’s environmental footprint.

Not everything you no longer need has to be thrown away. Old clothes, books, and furniture can be donated to charity shops or sold online to find a new home. Everyday items like scrap paper, envelopes, and jars can be reused for crafts or storage.

Refillable water bottles, rechargeable batteries, and refillable cleaning products cut down on single-use items. Some families even take on fun upcycling projects, like repainting old furniture or turning worn out clothes into something new. By reusing, we get more value from the things we already have and send less to landfill.

If something cannot be reduced or reused, recycling is the next best option. Recycling ensures valuable materials are turned into something new instead of ending up in landfill. Many household items can be recycled, including paper, plastics, metals, glass, batteries, and small electrical items. Food and garden waste can be composted at home or collected by your council to be composted on a larger scale. When buying new items, choosing products made from recycled materials helps to keep the cycle going.

If you’re ever unsure about what can be recycled in your area, use our recycling site locator tool. Simply enter your postcode to find out where different items can be collected or dropped off.