THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND SUITABLE
1 BUY LESS
Firstly by buying LESS of everything or by only buying what we NEED not what we WANT. Being environmentally conscious when shopping can become a habit. This is better for the planet and the future people that are living here.
By buying less of our daily bread. Over 30% of food produced is wasted and the prime example is bread. Think about what is needed when food shopping. Working to a weekly menu can be helpful here.
By buying less clothes. Clothes or Textile mountains (‘mountains of shame ’in developing countries are becoming more well known see the Attacama desert in Chile).
By buying less stuff overall we are able to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our waste footprint too.
2 BY RECYCLING
Common recyclables are paper, glass, aluminium, batteries, some garden material, some food. Hard plastics and sometimes soft plastics. Via your council refuse bins or various collection points.
E-waste or WEEE
People are becoming more used to the idea of recycling anything with a plug, cord or batteries. Huge amounts are now being taken to landfill. By recycling these items responsibly precious metals can be removed to be reused. This is also part of the circular economy, retrieving metals and other materials provides jobs and is an economic opportunity too. At the same time reducing carbon pollution.
How to be environmentally friendly at Christmas
When buying Christmas cards and wrapping paper. Avoid anything with plastic or glitter or gold and silver foil or 3D images.
Use recycled paper.
Swap cellotape and shiny foil tape for fabric bows or string which can be reused each year OR use plastic free cellotape (sold at Tesco’s).
Did you know?
You can usually tell if wrapping paper can be recycled if you scrunch it up into a ball and it remains scrunched up.
Plan menus to avoid food waste.
Halloween
Apparently this season causes more waste than Christmas. Be canny and aim to buy things that can be used for several years. Trying to avoid plastic at this time is difficult but try and keep it to a minimum.
Our local councils are a major source for recycling but re -using other peoples’ items can also be rewarding in a variety of ways.
3 BY REUSING
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WAYS!
Buy reusable items
Buy items that you can reuse more than once and avoid single use plastic items like water and milk bottles, plastic bags and utensils.
Buy other people’s stuff – Second Hand
Buy second hand, clothes, furniture, toys, electronics and books etc. instead of buying new stuff.
Likewise you may find a good home for second hand clothing or items.
Recycle your unwanted stuff
Most people know about Ebay, Vinted and local buy and sell social media sites like Freecycle. Using these can give your clothes and items a longer life and improve finances at the same time.
Do small things: using both sides of a sheet of paper or take your own mug to the coffee shop. Use reuseable bags. Choose the paperless option whenever possible for your household and bank statements – saves paper, carbon, energy and money.
Donating stuff can give you a feel good factor. You can donate books and all sorts of things you do not use or want to get rid of to charity shops (check first), meanwhile animal shelters may be glad of old towels and bedding and soft toys. Look at the Reuse Network which takes anything from pre-loved furniture and bric-a-brac, to paint. Sometimes items have had too much use and need to be recycled thoughtfully in the recycling bins. Many household items can be recycled including records, DVDs and CDs.
Get your stuff repaired
Where? At your nearest Repair Café in Clitheroe.
There are hundreds of ways!
If we send only what is necessary to landfill then we are helping future generations to live in a green, pleasant and healthier land.