Reduce top tips

We need to reduce the amount of waste we produce for the benefit of the environment and because of the cost involved.

Here are some tips to help you reduce your waste:

• Start home composting and turn garden and kitchen waste into an organic peat free compost. Reduced cost compost bins are currently available to Kent residents.

• Cut grass often enough to enable cuttings to be left on lawns.
• Think before you buy - do you need it, can you hire or borrow it?
• Buy more fresh produce or grow your own, this uses less packaging and it's healthy too!
• Try to cut down on packaged items. Where possible buy items loose, minimally wrapped, or wrapped in recyclable packaging such as paper and cardboard.
• Visit your local farmers market or greengrocers where products are often in less packaging.

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• Don't buy special-offer multiple products unless you can use them. Alternatively, buy products in bulk and share with a friend!
• Why not consider using your local milk delivery service. The dairy re-use the glass bottles by cleaning, sterilising and refilling them. This reduces the need for single use milk containers.
• Consider using cloth nappies to cut down on disposables. Have a look at our Top Bottom Real Choice campaign which gives financial rewards for using cloth nappies.
• Write and print on both sides of the page.
• Print only what you need, condense text and reduce the print quality to save paper and ink.
• Send e-mails and e-cards to reduce paper waste.
• Register with the Mailing Preference Service and stop receiving junk mail. Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EX. www.mpsonline.org.uk (opens in a new window)

• Hire or borrow where you can - such as tools, toys, books, films.
• Start to use your local library. They can order in thousands of books, films and CDs, including new releases.