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Reduce and Reuse
Waste prevention should always be the first step in waste management. But, of course, some waste is unavoidable and, for these waste types, it is important to think of ways to reduce and/or reuse the waste.
REDUCE: Small lifestyle changes can have a significant effect on the amount of waste you generate. Some general tips are given below and a list of more specific reduce and reuse ideas are available in the section ‘what do I do with…?’
REUSE: Reusing items is a more environmentally friendly way of dealing with waste than recycling. Take for example a glass jam jar. To reuse it, we might simply rinse it out and use it for storing nuts and bolts or similar. To recycle it, we must bring it to the bottle bank (possibly by car). It is then removed (by large truck), brought to a depot, then crushed (using large machinery), then brought to recycling plant (truck), melted down into new jar (large furnace), transported to jam factory (truck), filled with jam then transported to shop (truck) and finally purchased by you and brought home! (Of course, this is still better than making new glass from raw materials - this uses ten times as much energy as melting down and recycling old glass. For more information on recycling, click here.)
RECYCLE: Use all reuse and recycling facilities available to you – the following items should not be in your bin as facilities are provided for their disposal in Galway city (click here for details) – batteries, mobile phones, printer cartridges, spectacles, hard plastic items, furniture, toys, electrical and electronic items, clothes and glass.
MORE TIPS TO SLIM YOUR BIN (click here for other slim your bin tips)
1. When shopping, choose products that are minimally packaged. For example, avoid products with individual serving packets or sachets inside the larger packet.
2. Buy items (e.g. cereals, yoghurts, soft drinks) in bulk or buy the largest container you will use - only buy what you need though - buy more & you'll throw it out!
3. Buy concentrates and refills (e.g. washing powders and liquids)
4. Look for long lasting (and energy efficient) appliances when buying new electrical items — keep them well-maintained to increase their life cycle and repair them when necessary.
5. Use styrofoam or broken crockery as drainage in plant pots.
6. Reuse empty jam jars and old ice cream tubs for storage or keeping leftovers.
7. Shredded paper and cardboard make great animal bedding and can be recycled again into compost after use.
8. Use and refill your own durable drinks bottle.
9. When using paper, use both sides of the page.
10. Think before you drop! Before you throw anything away, decide if it can be reused for something else? Always go for products in packaging that can be reused or readily recycled.
11. Reuse wrapping paper, packing materials and envelopes. Always choose products made from recycled materials.
12. Share magazines with friends & see if your doctor/dentist can use unwanted magazines in the waiting room.
And remember one man’s waste is another man’s treasure - a number of reuse websites exist allowing you to give, donate and/or sell items.
www.jumbletown.ie
www.freecycle.org
www.schoolbookexchange.com
www.dublinwaste.ie/free_trade.php