Up Your Recycling Game

Everywhere we go now we’re confronted by signs that remind us to “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Ask a child of 5 years old, and they can probably explain how important it is. Reducing what we own and need means that we waste less. Reusing items means that less is ending up thrown out into landfill and recycling is creating new materials from old, saving our valuable resources, creating new jobs and products. But if you’re truly committed to doing more for this planet, there are some other words you can add to your mantra. Go Greener, recycling and waste disposal experts, offer you some new words to make your life more sustainable.

Refuse

A huge step towards a zero waste lifestyle is refusing what you don’t need. If you rely on takeaway lunches, bring your own container rather than taking the polystyrene or plastic container they come in. This saves on waste, but it also saves restaurants money on overheads so you may see the cost of your lunch going down (and encourage other people to start bringing their own containers). Post a No Junk Mail sign outside your house so less postage comes through your door that only ends up in the bin. Always bring a reusable shopping bag so you can refuse plastic bags at the supermarket (yes, even the reusable plastic ones – they end up in landfill more than you’d think).

Share

When you need a new item – such as a lawnmower, think of how long you’ll need it for. Is this an item that can be shared out between neighbours? Do you need to buy new? Speak to your community and friends and see if there is one going somewhere, or if you are buying new, offer to share so that the next person doesn’t need to buy one if theirs is on its last legs? This is a great way to reduce how much you own.

Other ways to share include donating old books and magazines to your community centre, local schools or shelters. If you would like a new book to read, visit the library. When giving gifts, don’t go for something material – treat people to experiences that they will remember, not things to clutter their home.

Donate

If you are moving or don’t need something anymore, extend its life cycle by donating it. Look up groups on Facebook or other networks and you’re sure to find some in your neighbourhood. There are also markets where you can earn a bit of extra cash by selling your items that are in good condition. If you have children who have outgrown their toys, make sure they get passed on. Set up a hand-me-down network as toys are often not recyclable.

Repair

When things stop working, they often get binned now. But if we fix and maintain the items in our home, they will last longer. You also have the options to borrow off a friend or donate things you don’t need, instead of adding to waste. If there’s something you are unsure you can fix, there’s probably a You tube tutorial that shows you how!

Responsible Skip Hire and Recycling

If you need to book skip hire and want the most responsible firm, then contact Go Greener today. We recycled between 90 – 95% of the waste that we received last year so you can rest assured that we take a conscious approach to waste disposal. Call us today on 01886 832590 or email info@gogreener.co.uk.