Waste and its disposal have become one of the main concerns of a modern man. The government has been using strategies for rubbish removal and they expect the increase in the household recycling and composting by 50% by the year 2020. It is estimated that half of our rubbish and waste in our bins can be recycled. Recycling is one way to decrease waste, but we can take a step further and prevent waste at source, so we have less to recycle in the first place. Why recycle things that can be reused or repaired? There are ways to avoid waste through various techniques such as composting, reusing, repairing, etc. Check out the following ideas and help reduce waste.
Rubbish
Cut down the waste by paying attention to what you buy. Do not buy things you don’t need. You will end up with things you will not use and will have more rubbish to remove. When buying products or goods, make sure they are not over packed or designed to be used only once and then thrown away.
Reduce
Reduction is the key when waste is concerned. Here, we can help reduce waste by buying products that will last longer and are well made. Also, buy concentrated products and be moderate in usage. Avoid more packaging than needed by buying in bulk. This way you will save money and reduce rubbish. When shopping, make sure to buy goods in returnable containers if possible. And don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag and avoid using plastic ones. Additionally, when buying batteries, buy the ones you can recharge instead of common ones.
Refill
Some products and goods come in refill packages. Such products have less packaging, which in return produce less waste. They are environment-friendly and save you money as well.
Reuse
So many items in our households can be reused. If you cannot reuse them, you can find somebody else who can or you can donate them to charity. For example, old clothes, shoes, toys and similar items can be reused. You can give them to charity or sell them on sales. Different empty jars and bottles are perfect for people who make jams or wine. You can use them yourself to store various items like kitchen products (sugar, rice, salt), hair pins, small toys, etc.
Repair
Do not throw away items that can be repaired. If you cannot repair them yourself, there are many shops where people who are specialists can make them work again, especially electrical items. You should dispose of things that are not repairable at places designed for that purposes.
As an individual, there are many things you can do that can help reduce waste and improve general well-being. If certain items cannot be fixed, recycled or reused, dispose of them properly. Do not throw waste like engine oil or other chemicals down the drain. Your toilet is not aimed to dispose of waste. It is our obligation to know where to dispose of certain items, for our own well-being and our children’s. If you are not sure what to do with rubbish, contact your local disposal department and ask about safe rubbish removal.
