Small steps can make a big difference to the environment and your household budget.
Try some of our top 10 tips to reduce the waste you produce in your new home.
- Use refillable water bottles and coffee cups and remember to take them with you, to use when you’re out and about. You could even save money by taking a drink or packed lunch from home.
- Avoid single use items such as cleaning wipes, drinking straws etc. Use washable cloths for cleaning and just drink straight from the glass.
- Buy unpackaged products, such as loose fruit and veg, and remember to reuse any fruit and veg bags. Local butchers, greengrocers and markets generally use less packaging and using them supports local supply chains.
- When shopping always remember to take shopping bags and re-usable containers with you. Reuse smaller plastic bags for your fruit and veg.
- Buy in bulk to reduce packaging, but make sure you will be able to use the products before their use by date, so as not to waste any food.
- Consider having milk delivered to your door. Dairies reuse the glass bottles by cleaning, sterilising, and refilling them. To find your local milk delivery service go to https://findmeamilkman.net/
- Buy items in packaging that is easily recyclable, e.g., instead of plastic bottles, consider changing to glass and buy your pet food in cans rather than pouches. They are generally cheaper, and it cuts the plastic used.
- Reuse glass jars for food storage and reuse plastic packaging, such as margarine tubs or ice cream tubs as storage containers.
- Join your local library for free. You will be able to access thousands of books, ebooks, films and CDs, including new releases.
- Use soap bars instead of soap dispensers or buy refills. You can even make your own non-toxic cleaning sprays. You will find lots of tips online if you search for DIY cleaning products.