There are three key factors when thinking about how to recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce

You can reduce the amount of waste you create by choosing what rubbish you throw away.

Waste reduction starts at the supermarket. By making slight alterations to your shopping list you can significantly reduce the amount of waste created in and around the home.

Buy only what you need: Reduce unnecessary waste by avoiding those pointless purchases. Items that rarely get used can be borrowed or shared with others.

Buy products that can be reused: Buy bottles instead of cans and rechargeable batteries. Items such as this create very little waste, as they don’t have to be thrown away after they have been used just once.

Buy all-purpose household cleaner: Instead of buying many different ones for each cleaning role.

Buy products with little packaging: So that less packaging ends up in your rubbish bin. For those items you use regularly, buy them in bulk instead of in smaller amounts. This will save you money as well as reduce waste.

Sell or give away unwanted items: Reduce waste by donating unwanted items to family, friends or neighbours. You could even sell your possessions in a car-boot sale and earn some extra cash.

Many hazardous products cannot be recycled as they contain harmful chemicals. However, there are ways of reducing waste by dealing with hazardous products in the correct manor.

Buy non-toxic products whenever possible Many toxic products such as motor oil and pesticides cannot be reused.

Recycle motor products Such as break fluid, oils and tyres by taking them to your local petrol station. By recycling these products instead of throwing them away, you are reducing hazardous waste.

Use all of the toxic product, such as furniture polish, so there is no hazardous material left in the container when it is discarded.

Find safer alternatives to hazardous household products. You can even make your own household cleaners using products such as baking soda and vinegar. Olive oil with lemon juice is a good alternative to furniture polish and using scented candles are a good alternative to air fresheners.

Many of the items that you would normally consider as rubbish could be used for other purposes. So instead of throwing items away, reduce waste by using them for other roles.

Reuse

Carrier bags and twist ties. Carrier bags can be reused in the shops or as bin bags around the house. Paper bags make useful wrapping paper and twist ties can be used to secure loose items together, such as computer wires.

Envelopes By sticking labels over the address you can reuse envelopes. Alternatively, old envelopes can be used as scrap paper to make notes on.

Jars and pots. By cleaning glass jars and small pots, you can use them as small containers to store odds and ends.

Newspaper, cardboard and bubble wrap Make useful packing material when moving house or to store items.

Old clothes - can be made into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cosies.

Packaging Such as foil and egg cartons can be donated to schools and nurseries, where they can be use in art and craft projects.

Scrap paper Can be used to make notes and sketches. Don't forget to recycle it when you no longer need it.

Tyres Old tyres can be given to your local petrol station where they will be recycled. Or you could make a tyre-swing by tying a strong rope around a tyre and attaching it to a tree.

Used wood Can be used in woodcrafts for making objects such as a spice rack or a bird table. Alternatively it could be used as firewood.

Recycle

Find ways of recycling different materials Many materials can be recycled, such as paper, plastic, metal and glass. Other items such as furniture, electronic equipment, building material and vehicles can also be recycled but many people don't often think to do so. On the Recycling Home Page Page you will find details of products you can recycle.

Buy products that can be recycled. When shopping at the supermarket, buy products that can be recycled easily such as glass jars and tin cans.

Buy products that have been made from recycled material. You can tell if a product is eco-friendly by looking at the label on the packaging.

Avoiding buying hazardous material. It is difficult to recycle products that contain hazardous waste. Try to find safer alternatives to household cleaners and buy non-toxic products whenever possible.

Recycle bins. Make sure you have a recycle bin in your home. Keep it in an obvious place so you won't forget to use it. Your local council should be able to provide you with a recycle bin that can be used for materials such as glass, paper, aluminium and plastic.

Composting Composting is a process where waste degrades into compost, which can then be used in your garden to help it grow. It is an excellent way to recycle garden and kitchen waste such as plant trimmings and leftover food.

Grass cycling Grass cycling is an excellent way of recycling grass cuttings after mowing the lawn. Simply leave the cuttings on the ground instead of throwing them away, they will turn into nutrients and act as a fertiliser in the soil.

Planting trees Planting trees in your garden helps to improve the environment by reducing global warming and providing a home for many animals.

Local recycling facilities Facilities are provided for community use. Find out where your local recycling facilities are and how to use them.