Did you know that in the UK we dispose of more than 30 tonnes of paper, glass, plastic, wood, food, metal, clothing, electronics and other refuse each year? That may seem overwhelming to lots of us, but there are things that we can do to make a difference in the amount of trash being thrown away every day.

Here are a few steps you can take starting today:

Be aware of how things are packaged.
At the grocery store don’t purchase items in pre-packaged plastic containers. Some things are even double-wrapped, so try to steer away from those. It’s also a good idea to buy things in bulk when you can.

Bring your own bags.
When headed to the store bring your own tote or at the very least, reuse bags you’ve already come home with. Leave some bags in your car so you’re sure not to forget them when you’re going out.

Use cloth, not paper.
Instead of using paper towels or napkins, choose cloth. It will significantly reduce the amount of waste and in the long run you’ll save money by not having to buy these items over and over again.

Buy in concentrate.
When you buy things in larger quantities and especially in concentrated form, they require less packaging, resulting in less energy to transport to the store and less plastic to recycle.

Recharge and renew.
To reduce the amount of garbage you have and to keep toxic metals out of the environment, be sure to not only use rechargeable batteries, but recycle them as well.

Get crafty.
Instead of throwing away envelopes, gift boxes, ribbons and the like, reuse them. You’ll have scrap paper and items for arts and craft projects. Things such as magazines and old calendars can often be donated to schools for their art classes as well.

Donate when you can.
Charity organizations and thrift stores will take used clothing, appliances, toys, and more. Check in your local area to see where you can drop off these types of items to get them out of your home if you can no longer use them.

If we would only think about what we throw away on a daily basis (and where it goes), we’re sure to find areas to recycle and reuse.

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