Reuse your waste If we reuse what we already have then we are able to reduce the need to extract more materials from the earth and prevent large amounts of potentially toxic, man-made materials from entering the environment as landfill. There are a growing number of arts and craft enthusiasts who now focus their creative efforts on repurposing items. Tips for reusing your waste: •• Get creative! Can your old teapot become a flower pot? Is that old bbq a new potting bench? Can you sew old blankets or jumpers into cushion covers? There are so many ways to reuse what you already have and if you cannot use them then there might be others who can. •• Hold a garage sale, donate to your local op shop, sell or swap online or host a clothes swap with friends. •• Repair broken items such as furniture, toys, clothes or electrical items rather than throwing them out. Check out local Repair Café options in your area to help out as well. •• You don’t always need to buy new. You can opt to buy used or secondhand items. There are some great finds at online marketplaces such as Gumtree, eBay or local Facebook markets. •• Choose products that have packaging that can be refilled rather than thrown away.
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Reducing your waste All of us can make choices that result in less waste being produced. Every time we shop, socialise, travel or just go about our everyday life, we make choices about what we buy and what we do. Reducing waste is about being mindful and making better decisions. Tips for reducing waste: •• Food waste is one of our biggest waste problems. Understanding the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates is important for distinguishing what should be eaten first. Food must be eaten prior to its ‘use by’ date for safety reasons. •• Buy longer-lasting, harder-wearing, quality items such as TVs, digital devices and clothes, and only replace them when they are at the end of their useful life. •• Use cloth nappies rather than disposable nappies. These are modern, easy to wash and use. Disposable nappies can each take hundreds of years or more to break down in landfill. •• Rather than single use products, purchase products that are concentrated, reusable, refillable or rechargeable rather than disposable including razors, lighters and batteries. •• Buy products with recycled content. This helps to ‘close the loop’ by creating markets for items made from recycled content, such as toilet paper or paper towel. ― eco finds ―
