Reduce and reuse top tips

Reduce

Start home composting and turn garden and kitchen waste into an organic peat free compost
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

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
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
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.

Instead of throwing your unwanted items away consider ways in which they could be reused. You could have a car boot or garage sale and sell items. Alternatively, advertise items in local papers or your local shop may be able to put a card in the window
Support your local charity shop or jumble sale by donating unwanted clothing, household items and books
Clothing which can't be re-worn make excellent rags and cleaning cloths when cut into pieces

Consider donating old computing or audio-visual equipment to schools, or unwanted magazines to waiting rooms
Buy used/second hand items. You might even find a bargin. Web sites such as Freecycle could help
Fix it don't bin it
Before replacing cookers, refrigerators and other white goods, find out if they could be reconditioned to give another couple of years' use, or check if a local charity or community group could make use of the item
Why not try and spruce up old furniture rather than throwing it out. Is there a local furniture reuse scheme near you?
When shopping, look for longer-lasting, harder-wearing products that are reusable, refillable or rechargeable rather than disposable. Consider:

Rechargeable batteries
Hankies which can be washed and used again rather than single use tissues
Use washable cloths rather than disposable cloths and dusters
Razors where the head can be replaced, rather than the whole item
Use cloth nappies
Table cloths and napkins that can be washed rather than thrown away
Wash plates and cutlery rather than using disposables. Some supermarkets provide a glass loan service if you are having a party (often this is a free of charge service)
Try to buy products that come in refillable packaging, this will save packaging and money in the long run

Reuse aluminium foil
Say 'no' to unwanted bags. Keep old shopping bags for reuse. Remember to take your old bags when you go shopping or keep spare bags in your car or at work so you're never without. Supermarkets offer their customers "bags for life". These harder-wearing bags last longer - and the supermarket will often replace worn out ones

Alternatively, use cardboard boxes or cloth bags for your shopping
Buy your milk in returnable bottles from the milkman as opposed to single use paper or plastic cartons
Store food in resealable containers instead of wrapping it in cling film or kitchen foil
Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, gift bags, string, and elastic bands

Reuse scrap paper; keep a tray for used paper by the phone for notes, etc.
Plastic bottles can be used as mini 'greenhouses' for young plants. Yoghurt pots are good for seedlings.