The first step to reducing household waste is to rethink our assumptions about what waste is. If we shift our thinking about the lifespan of products that we use and the lifecycle of produce that we consume, we can make landfill a last resort.
The next step is to become more aware of how we create waste and the variety of ways we can reduce, re-use and recycle. A lot of the stuff we throw out isn’t really waste at all.
By refusing excess packaging or making a decision not to purchase things brand new, we can reduce the amount of unnecessary waste sent to landfill.
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Reducing wasteAlthough we’ve made great improvements in our waste disposal habits over recent years, there are still lots of ways we can do more.
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RecyclingRecycling means your waste products go on to become useful for someone else. Recycling also helps make sure that there will be enough resources left for later generations.
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PlasticsPlastics are made from non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and coal and take a very long time to break down. Re-using and recycling plastics will save wasting the resources used in their production.
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Re-used and recyclable productsBuying products that have had a previous life, or have been made from parts which have been - or can be - recycled is a great way of reducing our impact on the environment.
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Kitchen and food wasteThe kitchen is where you cook, eat and socialise, and it’s the place where much of your weekly budget is spent. You may be surprised to know it’s also the place where a significant proportion of your household waste comes from.
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Hazardous household wasteIn many garages and backyard sheds across Australia are chemicals that can cause serious health hazards to you and the environment. Many of these products cannot be disposed of in your regular garbage collection.
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Home electronic waste (e-waste)Australians are purchasing more and more new technology. Technology we no longer need or want is called e-waste, and includes computers, monitors, televisions, DVD players, printers, fax machines and telephones.
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Building material wasteIf you’re thinking about renovating your home or building a new home, you can reduce the environmental impact of your building project in a range of ways.
