The problem ....

• Un-recycled rubbish eventually ends up in landfill - in which decomposing landfill sites emit large amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
• This methane is a greenhouse gas which is twenty times more potent than CO2
• The more products that are bought, the more waste is generated and a greater amount of CO2 is produced.
• The transportation of these new goods around the world also has a substantial effect on the amount of CO2 associated with rubbish

What can I do ....

• The action to take, depends upon the material of the rubbish you have to dispose of. These actions can be divided into the following groups

Electrical Items

• These are items that often have a severe negative effect on the environment
• Batteries must never go to landfill
• Try upgrading the software on your computer rather than buying a new one completely
• Recycle old mobile phones
• Consider using recycled ink cartridges or getting your existing ones re-filled

Food

• The UK, on average, throws away a third of all the food we buy
• Avoiding ‘buy one get one free’ items will limit the amount of waste produced
• Make a list of required items to shop for and stick to it
• Plan food so that you can use food before its sell by and use by dates are over
• Find ways of using your left over food

Paper

• Reuse and recycle paper
• Use both sides of the paper
• Make a pad of the scrap paper
• Re use envelopes where possible – many charities sell re-use labels
• Buy recycled paper goods where possible including recycled toilet roll and kitchen paper
• Remove unwanted junk mail from being sent to your home by registering with www.mpsonline.org.uk

Plastics

• This substance is derived from oil and CO2 is emitted in the manufacturing process
• Plastic bags should be re-used and use cotton or hemp bags as an alternative – these are environmentally friendly and are biodegradable
• Recycle through your council collection or at your local council recycling collection
• Compost - Making compost lightens your dustbin and stops it from smelling
• Less food is sent to landfill if you compost – therefore less methane is produced
• Homemade composting costs nothing and is extremely effective
• Bokashi Systems or Wormery systems are effective if garden space is limited
• Bokashi systems use anaerobic bacteria to digest food
• Wormery systems take a little more care – but the worm castes can be used as a fertiliser

Related pages ....

• Cooking