Everyday Recycling
Enjoy Waste Free (or Waste Reduced) Everyday Living
By taking responsibility for the stuff you consume (what you choose to buy and use) you can have a real positive impact on our environment.
Recycling will help save money and reduce your impact on our beautiful environment if you apply these tips for a waste-free lifestyle:
- Remember to rinse clean all plastic, glass and metal containers to ensure they are processed for recycling.
- Leftovers and oily residues cause problems for recyclers.
- Take reusable bags with you when shopping for groceries and gifts.
- When going to the beach, or out for a picnic, bring all your recyclables home with you to be sorted & recycled properly rather than throwing them in the general waste bins, the contents of which go straight to landfill.
- Rather than buying single-use, disposable crockery and cutlery, opt for compostable, or reusable alternatives.
- If everything doesn't fit in your recycling bin when collections resume, store it until the next collection, and place in your recycling bin, not the rubbish bin.
- Wherever possible, choose products without any packaging, or make sure all packaging is recyclable.
- Avoid products with excessive, non-recyclable packaging.
- Buy only the food you need, and make sure to compost any scraps & use quality leftovers for a meal next day.
Recycling Common Sense
Simply by being a part of the modern consumption economy, it is near impossible to avoid sending at least some waste to landfill. However, there are plenty of success stories of kiwis making a real difference by reducing their total waste to landfill just by being mindful of their purchases and recycling or composting everything that they can.
The best way for you to make a difference is to think about what you are buying. Questions to ask before making a purchase might be:
- Is the purchase of this item necessary or are there more sustainable alternatives?
- Is the packaging 100% recyclable?
- How far did this product have to travel to make it onto the shelf?
- Has this product been sustainably and ethically produced?
You can also question yourself when you put something into the rubbish bin:
- Can it be used again, or could it be useful for - someone else?
- Can it be recycled or composted?
- Can you phase this rubbish out in the longer term?
Once something is in the landfill that is the end of its use and life. You are responsible for choosing what, and how much, you buy, and for making sure the waste can be diverted from landfill.
Every little bit we do can make a difference. Be a responsible Kiwi - recycle anything and everything you can.