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Reduce how much waste you create

You can reduce the amount of waste you create by choosing what rubbish you throw away. Keep on reading to find out how:

Think before you shop

When shopping think about the items you are buying - make small changes in your shopping habits you can greatly reduce the amount of waste you produce at home. See below for some tips:

Buy only what you need

Reduce unnecessary waste by avoiding buying things you don't really need. Items that rarely get used can be rented, borrowed or shared with others.

Avoid disposable items

Buy recyclable batteries and reusable razors. Items such as this create very little waste, as they don't have to be thrown away after each use.

Buy products with less packaging

Where possible buy fruit and veg loose. For those items you use regularly, buy them in bulk instead of in smaller amounts. This will save you money as well as reduce your waste.

Sell or give away unwanted items

Reduce waste by donating unwanted items to family, friends or neighbours. You could even sell your possessions in a car boot sale and earn some extra cash or why not advertise items on the Free Trade Website.

Buy all purpose household cleaner

Instead of buying many different ones for each cleaning role.

 Reduce paper waste by cancelling unwanted mail

The Irish Direct Marketing Association (IDMA) are able to stop junk mail from arriving at your home.  There are two ways of doing this.
Firstly you can click on the link below and download the a Mailing Preference Form.  Simply print off this form and complete with your information. 

 
Then simply send it back in the post, free of charge, to the following address:
Mailing Preference Service,
P.O. Box 5609,
FREEPOST,
Dublin 4


Alternatively, or if you can not download the form,  you can ring the Irish Direct Marketing Association (IDMA) directly on 01- 8304752. They will send a Mailing Preference Form out in the post and once this is completed and returned your name will be removed from their database of which serves approximately 280 companies. The MPS form only covers mail originating in Ireland.
For other companies which are not members of the IDMA or for mail originating outside of Ireland it is more difficult to put a stop to junk mail. You can write to the individual companies as they are legally obliged to respond and remove your name from their database within 40 days.