News
Take our Survey and win a composter as part of the European Week for Waste Reduction
(21st - 29th November)
This feature was added on 23rd November 2009
Hertfordshire residents are already recycling and composting more than 44% of their waste - a significant improvement on 16% at the start of the decade. However, reducing and preventing waste is even more beneficial than recycling, as it reduces our use of natural resources, saves energy and even lowers waste collection and disposal costs.
The survey is now closed
Waste reduction is important for the European Union as a whole. Household waste has doubled in weight in 40 years and has been growing steadily at a rate of 1 to 2% per year. This waste is the result of non-sustainable modes of production and consumption. Furthermore, the consumption of products (including their production, transport and distribution), represents nearly 50% of emissions contributing to climate change. As part of the European Week for Waste Reduction, Hertfordshire residents can take the opportunity to find out some simple steps to prevent waste and reduce the amount of waste put out for collection.
Further details on the ways you can reduce your waste can be found below. Take the survey and then find out more about our top tips to reduce waste!
Plastic carrier bags - The average plastic bag will be used for just 12 to 20 minutes! In the UK over 13 billion bags are issued every year to shoppers. As plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down (and even then the plastic pieces never disappear completely), reusable jute or cotton bags available from most supermarkets have a much lower impact on the environment. Always remember to keep a folded up bag at the office, or in your handbag for those extra unplanned shopping trips!
Home composting - Up to 35% of household kitchen and garden waste is organic and suitable for home composting. Simply put it in a compost bin and leave it to breakdown for a few months. The end result is a rich, nutritious crumbly compost which can be dug into the garden to improve soil structure. It can also be used as a mulch to suppress weeds and improve drainage. Did you know, composting at home for just one year can save global warming gases equivalent to all the CO2 your kettle produces annually, or your washing machine produces in three months? Home composting can reduce the amount of waste put out for collection, saving vehicle journeys and recycling costs. Find out how to buy a low cost home compost bin here.
Stop junk mail - Up to 650 pieces of junk mail are posted through the average Hertfordshire letterbox annually! To help stamp out this unwanted junk mail visit the Mailing Preference Service (www.mpsonline.co.uk) to have your name and address removed from direct mail lists. Alternatively visit Junk Buster (www.stopjunkmail.org.uk) to get stickers for your letterbox to prevent free newspapers being posted to you.
Real nappies - From birth to potty a baby will get through an astounding 4,500 disposable nappies! They make up about 2.6.% of the average household rubbish in a year, which in the U.K. is equivalent to the weight of nearly 70,000 double decker buses. Using real nappies reduces the amount of waste sent for disposal and also the amount of energy and non-renewable resources used to produce disposables. Why not find out about our nappy cash-back scheme and give reusable nappies a try?
Reduce wasted food - A staggering £12 billion worth of food is thrown out every year in UK homes. Householders are throwing out on average £480/year. This increases to £680/year for families with children - or £50 per month. We throw food out for two main reasons: 1) we let food go off, either completely untouched, or opened/started but not finished, costing £6.7 billion per year. 2) we cook or prepare too much, costing us £4.8 billion per year. Wasting food has a huge environmental impact - if we stopped throwing food away, it would save the equivalent of at least 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That's like taking 1 in every 4 cars off our roads. To find out some tips on how you can significantly reduce this food waste by simply planning meals, storing food correctly and keeping it fresher for longer visit the Love Food Hate Waste website.
More ways to reduce waste:
- Buy eco-rechargeable or refillable products
- Drink tap water
- Restrict printer usage
- Donate old clothing
- Borrow or hire tools
- Repair goods and appliances