Waste Reduction

waste_sacksWe have become a throw-away society and much of our waste goes into landfill sites, producing more greenhouse gases, and damaging our countryside and the environment.

 We need to learn the 3 R’s of waste handling: Reduce, Reuse and recycle, but more importantly as part of our stewardship of the environment, we need to realise our responsibility for ensuring that we leave a world fit for the generations to come.
 
 
 
Top Tips – for waste in churches, faith buildings and community halls
 
Reduce
  • Reduce, Re-use and Recycle your Waste - Compact your waste (ask building users to do the same) and make sure bins are full to save money on collection costs
  • If you have office waste paper to dispose of – think before you print. Don’t print unnecessary document. If up-grading printers and photocopiers opt for one that can print double sided.
  • Receiving un-wanted mail? – find out more about the mailing preference service by visiting www.mpsonline.org.uk
  • Invest in crockery, cutlery and table linen to prevent your bins being filled with ‘disposable alternatives.
  • Reduce or stop using chemical pesticides in the church grounds
Reuse
  • Reuse unwanted IT equipment and furniture - can be re-conditioned and sold – look up details of furniture recyclers in your local area i.e. Furniture Re-use Network visit www.frn.org.uk for more details.
  • Most toners/printers from photocopies and printers can be re filled and reused.
  • Reuse old envelopes for internal communications or put a label on them for external communications.
  • Start a book club within the church this will save resource and money
  • Households items can be used in horticulture - Hang old CD’s or string old bottle tops together to scare the birds away, cut the necks of plastic bottles to concentrate water in the gardens, use old egg boxes as seed trays
Recycle
  • Set up recycling collection points in the church buildings or grounds for people bringing items from home e.g. any of the above plus stamps, clothing, spectacles. These can then be donated to local charities
  • Set up recycling systems for materials used in the church or faith buildings e.g. paper, toner cartridges, plastic milk cartons, polystyrene cups, drinks cans
  • Buy recycled – close the recycling loop by buying recycled paper, toilet tissue and paper towels (if you have them)
  • Encourage people to recycle old Christmas cards through local charitable schemes
  • Donate old paint to Community Repaint – to find your nearest scheme visit www.communityrepaint.org.uk   
You are not on your own, apart from asking your own local authority, there is additional help out there, just click www.bettertomorrows.org.uk and this will provide information and the links to enable your church, faith group or community, organisation to realise their potential for waste reduction.

 
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This page was last updated on 10/05/10 at 09:35:16
Office Use Only: 4/12-02-11/Helen Swyer