Skip hire is a must when you’re installing a new kitchen, having a major clear out before a house move or getting landscaping work done in the garden. At times like this, it’s amazing how quickly the skip fills up, but luckily most of what gets thrown away can be recycled. And on a day to day basis, there is plenty we can do to minimise our waste disposal as we do our bit to help the planet by making a conscious effort to contribute as little as possible to landfill sites.
The packaging plague
Ever ordered a small item online only for it to arrive in a gigantic box full of plastic wrapping? If this happens to you, complain and if nothing changes vote with your feet and shop elsewhere! At the supermarket buy loose items where possible. Consumer demand for less wasteful plastic packaging is already making the government and retailers take notice, so make a pledge to take this issue seriously. And don’t forget your bags for life when you go out shopping – recent statistics show that 290 plastic bags per person form part of our waste disposal each year.
Refill and re-use
Look for toilet paper and kitchen roll that is made from recycled material. And keep your eyes peeled for recent innovations and clever life hacks to save waste. These days you can get reusable beeswax food wraps that eliminate the need to use cling film to store or transport food. Or why not use plastic hotel shower caps as food covers – they are usually strong enough to wash and reuse. Look for products such as washing-up liquid in refillable containers and swap wasteful plastic shower gel bottles in favour of a good old fashioned bar of soap.
Dispense with disposable
Disposable nappies take up vast spaces in landfill sites, so if you have a baby, why not consider re-useable fabric nappies? Batteries are also a major culprit, especially if you have a house full of gadget-using kids and teens, so switching to rechargeable batteries is an easy way to reduce waste. Plastic disposable razors are also simple to swap for reusable versions. The initial outlay may cost more but over time you will actually save money.
Give it away
Always remember that one person’s junk is another’s treasure. You may hate the pattern on that old sofa, but a furniture reuse organisation would find a good home for it. Most major retail parks have mini recycling sites for clothes and shoes and charity shops are always looking for these as well as books and other knick-knacks. Mobile phones and empty inkjet cartridges can be sent to the Woodland Trust to help plant trees. And before you decide to throw anything broken away, it’s always worth considering whether it can be repaired first.
Call us today on 01782 624209 at Cherry Hill Waste to discuss your skip hire needs. You will be assured of a friendly, reliable and eco-friendly service, with 90% of our collected waste being recycled.