We are always trying to work out ways to encourage the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and we would like you to share your hints and tips on the three Rs with us and with others.
If you have a unique Reuse for plastic bottles or a top tip for Reducing your waste, let us know. Send an email to waste@thurrock.gov.uk and we will put the best hints and tips online.
Reducing waste means not producing it in the first place. We often think that the best way to deal with our household waste is to recycle more, but whilst recycling is better than landfilling or burning waste, it's not the best solution.
Recycling still means that lorries have to travel round the town, waste must be stored and bulked, and factories must be built to process and remanufacture the waste.
If we reduce the amount of waste we produce by putting into practice some of these ideas, we won't have to think about how to deal with it. The important thing about reducing waste is that everyone's individual behaviour is important.
Waste reduction means we make decisions before buying things - e.g. choosing items with less packaging, and only buying what is needed.
Reducing waste often saves money as well as the environment - most of us would object to paying for something which we're going to throw away!
If we can't reduce our waste, the next best thing is to try to reuse it - this means we make things last longer, or try to think of alternative uses for items that are no longer required.
Thinking creatively before throwing things away will often give you ideas about how to reuse waste at home - e.g. containers can be washed and refilled, rechargeable batteries can be used instead of single use ones, packaging can be reused.
If you can't reuse your own waste, think about allowing someone else to use it - this may involve donating items in good condition to charity. Thurrock has a wide range of charities that accept a huge variety of goods!
Buying goods second hand can often save money, and it also helps the environment. We sometimes forget that lots of the items we have at home can be sold to other people - this is a great way to reuse waste. Many things, including mobile phones, furniture, toys, CDs and DVDs can be sold at car boot sales, swap shops, or on internet auction sites.
Recycling means using old materials to manufacture new products. If something can't be reused, then the next best thing is to recycle it. Recycling was a new concept a few years ago, but now most people in Thurrock are used to having kerbside recycling collections, or live near a Recycling Centre or Point.
Many materials can be recycled - most people know that waste paper is recycled into new paper, but did you know that your empty milk bottles can be recycled and made into fleece clothing?
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