South East Forum For Sustainability

Brighton & Hove is currently threatend with a bin strike. But this needn’t be a bad thing. Strikes or changes to collections can be a great opportunity for communities to pool their resources and stop looking at waste as a problem.

By working collectively we can significantly reduce the amount that ends up in our bins. If we don’t act of course it will become a smelly, hazardous eyesore but by taking a few small steps we can make great strides in minimising the problem. There are many things that can be done to reduce/reuse/recycle and compost but – here’s a few suggestions:

 1) Take the waste challenge and slim your bin, look at what you throw away each day or week and challenge your household to see how small you can make that waste pile. (see the slim your bin page for examples of how to monitor your waste)

2) Reduce
a. Packaging – avoid goods that are over packaged and return unwanted packaging to the store.
b. Food – avoid food waste by planning your meals in advance, check what’s in the cupboard and fridge before you shop make a list and only buy what you need.
c. Buy a water filter and a water bottle or flask instead of bottled water and ask for your takeaway coffee to be put in your own container.
d. Cut down on junk mail by joining the Mailing Preference Service
e. Read the paper online.

3) Reuse
a. Joinyour local Freecycle, Freegle or the Green Cycle Sussex network and exchange what you don’t want any more for something you do.
b. Repair old clothing or give it away to charity (or if it’s unfit to use take it to the your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre and put it for textile recycling).
c. Use leftover food for another meal.
d. Use old carrier bags again (and again)
e. Buy second hand clothes/books/furniture
f. Try using reusable nappies

4) Recycle
a. Wash and squash all your recyclable materials (cans, plastic bottles etc) so they take up less space while council collections aren’t taking place (and so they don’t go smelly).
b. Store your recyclables in a dry place
c. If you’re in Brighton get together with some neighbours and subscribe to Magpie’s Opt-in recycling scheme  Tel: 01273 684425 Email: optin@ magpie.coop

5) Compost
a. If you still have food waste left over after following the reducing tips then minimise what goes into the bin by composting. Small gardens can usually accommodate at least a wormery, while larger gardens are suitable for compost bins or food waste digesters.
b. If you don’t have a garden, team up with someone who does and share their compost bin.
c.  Tips and guidelines for composting can be found on the Recycle Now website

Visit the Act on CO2 website:  for more help and suggestions on how to reduce/re-use/recycle and compost

It would be great to get into the habit of doing this now and teaming up with our neighbours and communities then when changes or strikes happen they will be less of a problem.