Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Everything we produce and consume has an impact on the environment in some way. The ‘Three Rs of Recycling’, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, refers to ways we can minimise the amount of materials that we use.

Reducing your consumption is the best and most important way of minimising your impact on the environment.
Examples of things you can do:

• Don’t buy items you don’t need and only replace items when they can no longer be used or are beyond repair.
• If an item is damaged, try to repair the item rather than replacing it. For example, clothes and electronics can often be repaired.
• Don’t buy items with excessive packaging especially those packaged in plastic.
• Choose to walk, cycle or take public transport instead of using a car.
• Hang washing out rather using a tumble dryer.
• Buy second hand or recycled products.

Recycling is to break down an item and make something new from the materials. Recycling items still uses energy so ideally they should only be sent for recycling if there is no other way they can be reused or repaired.

Examples of things you can do:

• Compost your garden waste and fruit and vegetable scraps or, if you have subscribed to the collection service, use your green bin.
• Put recyclable items in your silver bin or take them to a household waste recycling centre.
• Buy second hand or recycled products.