Tuesday 9 June 2009

Theme for June - reducing waste at source


I haven't got time to write much today, so I'm copying some information from the latest I received from Gloucestershire carbon watchers on the theme for June:

This month we’re completing our look at the “three Rs” of reduce, re-use, recycle with the hardest – but also the most effective – reducing waste at source.

Ideas include:

  • Borrowing instead of buying through local libraries
  • Borrow, hire, buy second hand or make your own (if you can) instead of buying new stuff
  • Buy the most durable items you can afford. Items that last may become family heirlooms or priceless antiques!
  • Regular cleaning, care and maintenance can extend the life of many products.
  • Buy things with simple mechanisms that may be easily repaired, for example mechanical rather than electronic
  • As well as avoiding disposable products, check that items you buy do not rely on disposable parts, for example can the cartridges for a new printer be refilled?
  • Shop for food with a meal plan in mind: over a third of the food bought in the UK ends up in the bin. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for tips.
Lots to think about then and plenty of ideas to get us started. I'll look forward to this month's challenge!

No idea what has happened to the text - I'm not very good with blogger!