Waste minimisation

How to recycle

The amount of waste thrown away by households in West Wiltshire is increasing every year, but we can all do our bit to reduce how much rubbish goes to landfill.

We can:

REDUCE

the amount we buy that will be thrown away, such as packaging and disposable products, and be careful not to buy more than we need

RE-USE

anything we can, either by repairing items as necessary or by giving them to someone who can make use of them. Freecycle is a web-based organisation where members can trade all sorts of items with other local residents- for free! There are currently schemes in Melksham, Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge. Find out more at the Freecycle website.

RECYCLE

as much as possible, by using a kerbside collection scheme, home composting, using a food waste digester, visiting one of the many mini recycling centres, or by using one of the three household waste recycling centres.

Please think twice about what you throw away - your environment depends on it.

To see the response to the most Frequently Asked Questions on green bins and black boxes click here

Top tips for waste reduction

Following these simple tips will help you to reduce the amount of waste you need to throw away each week:

• Buy only what you really need - make a list before you go shopping
• Buy products with the least amount of packaging (where possible, buy concentrates or in bulk)
• Keep a bucket under your kitchen sink for scraps that can be composted
• Keep a carrier bag handy for used cans and jars
• Eat food while it’s fresh to avoid having to throw it away
• Give your old clothes and shoes to a charity shop or recycle them in a textile bank
• Re-use envelopes and scrap paper
• Cut down on junk mail - write to the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London, W1E 1EZ or go to their website at www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/ (external site, opens in new browser window).
• For more tips on how to recycle and save energy, please see these other websites; www.recyclingexpert.co.uk, www.energysavingsecrets.co.uk and www.ecofriendlykids.co.uk.

For more information on waste reduction and recycling please visit the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust website (external link, site opens in new window)