In order to reduce the amount of waste we dispose of, and increase the recycling of waste, the waste hierarchy can be used to identify how we can achieve this.

Waste Management Hierarchy

       Reduction
             ß
        Re-Use
             ß
      Recovery

(Recycling, composting, energy recovery)
ß
Disposal

Reduction

Waste Minimisation

You can REDUCE the amount of waste you produce by buying goods with less packaging and
are not over-packaged. This way you REDUCE the waste that goes into your bin, and lets
manufacturers know that you don’t want items that are over-packaged!

Here is some useful tips and information.

Choose RECYCLED products, or products where some is made from RECYCLED materials.

Choose REFILLABLE products. Such as washing up softener refill packs, glass milk bottles and use refillable ink cartridges/toners.

Choose RECHARGEABLE products. Use rechargeable batteries and solar powered equipment to save energy and prevent battery waste.

Canceling Junk Mail

Householders and businesses can minimise the amount of junk mail that they receive by contacting the Mailing Preference Service.

Phone, fax, or send them a postcard with your address and a note to “cancel my junk mail” to:

The Mailing Preference Service
FREEPOST 22
London W1E 7EZ
Tel: 020 7766 4410 Fax: 020 7974 1886

www.mpsonline.org.uk

A to Z Handbook

This handbook is a useful information tool for households and businesses and provides information on various aspects of waste management. See if your local Council has one.

Have a look at http://www.wascot.org.uk/A-Z_DisposalGuide.htm for an A-Z recycling information guide.

Education Packs

Education packs can be produced which include general information on waste management, such as simple waste audits, landfills, materials recycling, packaging, composting and incineration.
Composting Schemes

Householders and Businesses can their organic waste, therefore reducing the amount of waste going to disposal sites. Schools can be encouraged to use composting as part of school projects. Contact your local Council for information.

SMART Shopping (“saving money and reducing trash”)

Smart shopping is being promoted to encourage people to buy materials made by recycled material, as well as shopping wisely to reduce the amount of packing waste, e.g. buying refills.

Waste Audits

Waste audits are used to establish a baseline, so that the success of waste minimisation initiatives can be measured. They are a good way of identifying the types of waste and the disposal routes of a business. The results of the waste audits can then be used to identify if waste can be eliminated or reduced, resulting in savings to the business and a reduction of the waste volumes for disposal.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

These systems are an extension of the waste audit and can be applied to businesses and to help identify how you can improve how your business activities affect the environment. The most common schemes being ISO 14001 and the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). These schemes are structured in order to enable an organisation to identify, monitor, and control its environmental impacts.

Waste Exchanges

Waste exchanges can be used by businesses and provide a way of putting the producers of waste and the potential users of waste in touch with one another. Some types of waste may actually be a necessary raw material for another process. Therefore by promoting waste exchange, businesses may actually reduce their raw material usage, as well as reducing their waste disposal.

Please see our discussion forum for information about swapping and exchanging materials to prevent waste.

Waste Minimisation Clubs

These clubs have proven to be a successful way of encouraging companies to reduce costs and improve environmental performance. They usually consist of businesses that are interested in reducing their waste, being more environmentally friendly and saving money as a result. Along with interested businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, the Local Authority, the Environment Agency, and green business forums will all be involved.

The members benefit from exchanging ideas on waste reduction by networking with other companies, receiving training and keeping up to date with new legislation. The clubs can also investigate other sustainable development issues such as energy and water use to ensure minimum wastage. National Initiatives

National initiatives such as the National Waste Awareness Initiative (NWAI) help develop a range of options for improving public awareness of waste issues. Various campaigns are launched throughout the year that the Council can help publicise to the local business community.

Waste Reduction and Prevention Useful Links

http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/WastePrevention.htm

Re-Use

Finding alternative uses, repairing or refurbishing items to prevent them becoming waste, can reduce the amount of waste being disposed of by internal departments and local businesses.

Alternative Uses

The department collects a considerable tonnage of builder’s waste and soil from the skip hire service. Much of this waste could be segregated, preferably at source, and used for other construction work or landscaping. The department should encourage customers to segregate their waste, and find alternatives to disposal for the waste.

Refurbishing

Organisations have been set-up to refurbish washing machines, cookers, fridges, furniture and other household goods, which are then sold on at modest prices. Internal departments and businesses often utilise the Councils special uplift service to dispose of these types of items. By identifying and communicating organisations or companies who provide such services, the department could help reduce some of the waste going for disposal.

Your waste may be useful to someone else or can be repaired and reused.

Examples include:

1. Donating goods to charity shops.

2. Re-using plastic carrier bags or use long life supermarket Bags.

3. Re-using plastic containers for storage.

4. Using both sides of a piece of paper.

5. Shredding up used paper for animal bedding.

6. Repairing old furniture.

7. Using old clothes as dusters or cloths.

Recycling

Make use of the kerbside recycling collections and recycling banks that are provided by your local Council. If you are not sure where they are try using our searchable database to find your nearest recycling facility.

Recycling Useful Links

Waste Online

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/strategy.htm

Recycle-more

http://www.wascot.org.uk/

http://www.wrap.org.uk/

WRAP Home Recycling

http://www.rethinkrubbish.com/home/

http://www.dochange.net

http://www.rags.org.uk/