How to reduce your rubbish

It might take a bit of practice, but you can reduce the amount of waste you produce at home.

• Only buy what you need, and only as much as you will use.
• Plan your meals so you know what to buy.
• Find ways to use what is already in your pantry, fridge or freezer.
• Freeze your leftovers to eat later. If you don’t like leftovers, consider making half quantities from a recipe so you make less.
• Put your food scraps into your food and garden waste bin, or use a compost bin or worm farm.
• Putting a 'No Junk Mail' sticker on your letterbox. You can ask us to post you one by emailing resource.recovery@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.
• Take reuseable bags when you go shopping.
• Buy loose fruit and vegetables or use washable cloth produce bags.
• Buy food with no packaging where possible or purchase it in your own container.
• Choose to buy items with the least amount of recyclable packaging.
• Cut down or cut out the use of disposable products at home.
• Use bubbles, flags or bunting instead of plastic balloons.
• Avoiding single-use plastics such as straws. Invest in reusable straws.
• Opt out of receiving phone books.
• Avoid using cling wrap. Use air-tight containers, jars or beeswax wraps instead.
• Wrap your waste in newspaper instead of using plastic bin liners.
• Turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in use.
• Use bamboo toothbrushes, combs and hair brushes instead of plastic ones.
• Drink tap water instead of bottled water. You can boil the water to purify it.
• Use cloth handkerchiefs.
• Invest in reusable pads, period underwear or a menstrual cup.
• Use cloth nappies.
• Use bars of soap instead of liquid soap in plastic containers.
• Buy a charger and rechargeable batteries to keep on hand.
• Use dental floss made from silk instead of plastic.
• Use shampoo and conditioner soap bars instead of plastic bottles.

Many products and materials can be used again. There are loads of ideas on the internet. Here are a few you can probably start doing right now.

• Take reuseable bags and fruit and vegetable produce bags when you go shopping.
• Use a bread bag when buying bread from the bakery.
• Take your own food container and shopping bag when buying takeaway food. Find BYO container friendly businesses in the City of Whittlesea. Note that it is up to individual businesses whether they accept reusable containers. Stores have the right to refuse containers that they feel are unsuitable or unclean.
• Drink your coffee in a mug at the cafe or use a reusable takeaway coffee cup.
• Take your own reusable water bottle, coffee cup and cutlery where possible.
• Use cloth handkerchiefs.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Reuse glass jars to store and freeze food.
• Use cardboard boxes more than once.
• Get on the internet for ideas on how to ‘upcycle’ old clothing, furniture, or toys.
• For items you no longer want but are still in good condition, see donate or sell unwanted household items. 

There are a range of products you can buy that are made from recycled materials. 

 Keep an eye out in your local supermarket for household products while you’re shopping.

• Paper products like toilet paper and tissues made from recycled clean office paper are examples of what’s available in your local supermarket.
• For non-household items, look online for recycled material sellers.
• Buy mulch made from recycled organic material. You can get some from the green waste recycling facility.
• Only buy compost bins and worm farms that contain recycled plastic.
• Buy recycled rubber computer mouse mats.
• Buy recycled plastic playground equipment.
• If renovating, check demolition yards for suitable materials.
• By recycled or ‘upcycled’ furniture.

The groups and organisations listed below can provide further information on waste minimisation, or who support the effort to reduce waste. 

• Boomerang Bags: 
  • There are three local boomerang bag groups in the City of Whittlesea: 
    • Thomastown Library and Neighbourhood House
    • Mernda
    • Whittlesea Township
• BYO containers
• Clean up Australia Day 
• Sustainability Victoria
• Zero waste Victoria
• Take 3 for the sea