Reduce waste tips

Choose products with minimal packaging.
Buy loose fruit and vegetables
Look for goods in recyclable containers that are compatible with the Council's recycling scheme
Buy concentrated products or in bulk (but only as much as you will need!)
Use rechargeable batteries or mains converters where possible
Look for refills, especially for washing powder, fabric conditioner and toiletries.
Take your own bags for your shopping. Many supermarkets offer loyalty points for doing so. Robust, reusable bags are now widely available and 'bags for life' are replaced free of charge when they wear out.

'Buy one, get one free' deals look attractive, but will you use both? Don't add to the mountain of food waste by purchasing items you won't use
Plan your menu before shopping so as not to buy items that are not required.
Plan new meals with leftovers. There are plenty of ideas at love food hate waste
Consider getting a home composter and/ or food digester for dealing with uncooked and cooked food waste respectively, rather than throwing away.
Consider using 'real' nappies rather than disposable ones.
Try to avoid using disposable plates, cups and cutlery.

Since the introduction of the wheelie bins Adur and Worthing has experienced a:
- 24% reduction in residual waste to landfill
- 23% increase in materials for recycling
- 60% increase in garden waste sent for composting
The current recycling rate for Adur & Worthing is 38%

Existing landfill sites in West Sussex will be full up within three years
Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to run a 60 watt light bulb for six hours
Fleeces and duvet fillings can be made from recycled plastic bottles
2% of crude oil produced is used to make plastic packaging
Landfill gases consist of up to 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide - both are known greenhouse gases
There is evidence of composting in China and re-use of bronze scrap in Europe as early as 4,000 BC