Website of the UK government

Reducing waste

Nearly a fifth of household waste is packaging from retail purchases. Shopping carefully can help cut down on this waste. You could think about:

• taking your own bag when you go shopping, to help reduce the 10 billion plastic bags that are handed out by supermarkets each year
• registering with the Mailing Preference Service to avoid unwanted junk mail being sent to your home
• trying not to waste food; the average UK household spends £424 a year on food which is thrown away
• avoiding products with unnecessary packaging
• choosing reusable products

• Register with the Mailing Preference Service Opens new window
• Reduce your waste - top tips from RecycleNow Opens new window
• Plastic bags - ways to cut your use Opens new window

Repair

Some household items, including computers, electrical equipment and furniture, can be repaired. Search online or in your local phone book for repair services in your area.

Reuse

Many items can be reused, including mobile phones, computers, printer cartridges, leftover paint and clothes. Even if you have finished with something, someone else will often be able to use it. National charity organisations, local charity shops, internet auction sites and free exchange schemes may be able to reuse your unwanted items.

• Recycling at home
• Give away unwanted items through Freecycle Opens new window

Computers
There are a large number of organisations throughout the UK that will accept unwanted computer equipment and repair or recycle it. Many of them are charities that provide benefits to the local community.

• Electrical goods: greener choices
• Unwanted computers - what to do with them Opens new window
• Organisations that take computers Opens new window

Furniture
Unwanted or broken furniture can be reused, mended or recycled. The Furniture Re-use Network can put you in touch with local schemes that pass on furniture and appliances to low income families. Vintage and second-hand shops are often a popular choice if you are looking for new furniture or want to get rid of old furniture in good condition.

• Furniture Re-use Network Opens new window

Paint
Try not to buy more paint than you need. More than 300 million litres of paint are bought each year and a significant amount never gets used. Leftover paint can be donated to a national network of paint reuse organisations, or disposed of safely through your local council.

• Unwanted paint - ways to reuse it Opens new window
• Donate unwanted paint to a community project Opens new window

Books, DVDs, CDs
Second-hand books, CDs and DVDs can be bought and sold online, or taken to your local charity shop.

• What to do with unwanted books Opens new window

The wider issue

Making new products uses energy and raw materials. As a general rule, reusing or repairing things rather than buying new will:

• help to keep valuable materials out of landfill sites
• use less energy than making new products, helping to tackle climate change

There are some exceptions. Old appliances like boilers and fridge-freezers use much more energy than new ones. If you need more advice, contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.

• Waste and resource use - find out more

More useful links

• Disposal of bulky items (home and community section)
• Find recycled items to buy, including designer goods Opens new window
• Find a charity shop near you Opens new window