Reuse, Recycle and Save

Reuse, Recycle and Save

Now that we have the 5p plastic carrier bag charge, will it make people think more about the impact on the environment?

In 2013 alone, 8 billion carrier bags were given out in the UK. In other numbers that’s 130 bags per person and 57,000 tonnes of waste. Reusing bags and using bags made of cloth and other more sustainable materials will help but what else is your family doing to reduce your carbon foot print?

Small changes in your daily routine could lessen your impact on the environment and save you thousands of pounds each year.

What we are doing in my family is:

• Recycling – we recycle plastic, metal, glass, cardboard and paper. We also recycle fabric and clothes either by donating them to H&M who recycle for you or using those charity bags that you get through the mail box.
• Donating – we donate items that we no longer use or need. We give these to charity shops or friends and don’t just put them in the bin.
• Meal Planning – we always plan our meals and eat leftovers on purpose to save money, time and resources. We rarely waste any food because we only buy what we will actually eat and know that we’ll use.
• Reusing – we use many reusable items like shopping bags, breast pads, cloth pads, swim nappies, make-up pads, baby cloths to clean my daughter’s face and hands, cleaning cloths, etc. that you wash and use over and over again instead of adding to landfill.
• Eating Vegetarian Food – I’ve been a vegetarian for over 15 years and only cook vegetarian food. I’m the cook of the household so my husband eats an almost vegetarian diet too which is good for your health as well as the planet.
• Avoiding the Dryer – we try to not use our dryer unless it’s an emergency and we really need to dry something quickly. Dryers use a lot of energy!
• Switching Things Off – we turn electronic items off when they’re not in use and don’t leave them on stand-by. We turn them off at the plug too since some items still pull electricity when they’re off.

This infographic by 4imprint has some great tips and interesting facts: