| The maxim 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' is often | | | | carefully so that you are not buying food that |
| banded around with regards to minimising waste | | | | you simply won't use and remember to bear in |
| but many people tend to focus on the recycle | | | | mind that a 'best before' date does not mean |
| element. This is, of course, very important in | | | | that the food will be harmful after that date. A |
| terms of reducing the amount of waste going to | | | | 'use by' date is used for products where there |
| landfill and minimising the need to use virgin | | | | may be a risk after the date given but 'best |
| materials, but reducing the waste we produce and | | | | before' means just that! |
| reusing some 'rubbish' where possible is also | | | | It is very difficult to produce no packaging waste, |
| imperative. | | | | but think carefully about what to do with any |
| Packaging is often a big problem in terms of the | | | | waste you do have. If it is not collected for |
| waste we produce, but there are ways this can | | | | recycling from your home, there may be facilities |
| be reduced. When shopping try to select items | | | | locally where you could take the waste. If not, |
| with as little packaging as possible, or at least | | | | can it be reused, for example for wrapping |
| easily recyclable packaging. For loose fruit and | | | | sandwiches, for storing bits and bobs or for junk |
| vegetables, for example, think about whether it is | | | | modelling? If you don't have children yourself, a |
| really necessary to put them in a plastic bag. | | | | local nursery may be happy to take suitable items |
| Buying in bulk where appropriate will also reduce | | | | from you. Putting rubbish in the landfill bin should |
| the amount of waste packaging and will usually | | | | certainly be a last resort. |
| save you money! Make sure you also use | | | | By reducing the amount of waste we produce |
| reusable shopping bags rather than free carrier | | | | and reusing or recycling that which is inevitable, |
| bags; many stores offer these at a minimal | | | | we will reduce the use of virgin materials, the |
| charge. | | | | energy needed to produce the materials and the |
| It is also important to think carefully about the | | | | amount of waste going to landfill sites. So next |
| food you buy in order to reduce waste. Buying | | | | time you go shopping think carefully about what |
| store-cupboard products in bulk can reduce | | | | you are buying. If we turn away from products |
| packaging waste and save money, but it might be | | | | with excessive packaging, more stores will take |
| better to buy fresh produce more regularly rather | | | | heed and find alternative ways of presenting |
| than risk food going off. Try to plan menus | | | | products. |