Contents list (and fastpaths) - or you can just page down
Introduction - Why reduce rubbish?
The low waste family
The low waste baby
The low waste school
Low waste in the workplace
Low waste shopping
Reducing food waste
The low waste gardener
The low waste outdoors
Your waste could be someone else's treasure
Electronic and electrical goods
The low waste community
Conclusion - Some points to remember
Further information

Hello! I'm General Waste, the mascot leading the War On Waste in Hampshire.

Many of us are becoming very concerned about the amount of rubbish we all create. Getting rid of rubbish is costly, harmful to the environment and a real waste of resources.

As a Hampshire resident, you are already among the best in the country at recycling but can you lead the way by reducing the amount of rubbish you create as well?

We have produced 'Trash Attack' as a guide to reducing waste in Hampshire. I hope that it will help you start making a few simple changes in your home or the workplace.

Get Wastebusting!

General Waste's Challenge - Could you reduce your rubbish to two carrier bags full a week?

Try some suggestions listed below:

• Stop junk mail being posted to you by writing to the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ, or call 08457 034599 to register.

• Consider using doorstep delivery services for organic vegetables, milk and other fresh produce - goods often come  in little or returnable packaging.

• Only buy prepacked convenience foods when you really need them.

• Consider growing your own vegetables - many varieties can be grown in small gardens.

Reuse items where possible:

• Yoghurt pots are ideal for seedlings.

• Swap magazines with friends, or give them to surgeries, for waiting rooms.

• Mend broken or worn items of clothing, furniture and equipment.  Try dyes and paint!

General Waste's Challenge - Consider buying good quality, second-hand clothing and baby equipment.

• Donate or loan unwanted baby equipment and clothes to your expectant friends.

• Consider using a nappy laundry service and save the disposables for holidays or long journeys. Contact your district council Recycling Officer for local details.

• Buy fewer baby toiletries; water on its own or a very mild soap is often sufficient, and better for a baby's skin.

• Use a baby hire service for one-off items such as breast pumps, travel cots etc.

• Make your own baby food.

• Breast-feeding is best for baby and it's free. For information, support and encouragement contact your nearest NCT breast-feeding counsellors.

General Waste's Challenge - To provide low waste packed lunches.

• Pack your lunch and drink in a reuseable lunch box and flask.

• Use pencils or refillable fountain pens, ball point pens, wooden rulers and leather pencil cases.

• Send good quality school uniforms and school books to school sales or younger pupils.

• Write on both sides of a piece of paper, use paper as a scrap before recycling it, and avoid over reliance on hand-outs.

• Try visiting your local scrap store. 

• Call your local Recycling Officer ask for a school talk on recycling.  General Waste might even be able to visit!

General Waste's Challenge - Avoid wasting paper and other materials

There are many ways you can help your employer or business save money on waste disposal costs.

• Purchase recycled and low waste products. A detailed Buyers' Guide is available from Waste Watch - see Further Information.

• Avoid wasting material, including paper - use only what you really need.

• Recycle toner cartridges.

• Encourage your company to adopt waste reduction techniques throughout the organisation.

• Recycle cans, plastic and glass bottles, etc.

• Share memos, journals and other publications rather than everyone having their own copy.   Make better use of notice boards for shared information.

• Avoid using paper when a phone call, e-mail or personal visit might do instead.

• Only photocopy when really necessary - use the double-sided and/or reduction facility whenever possible.

• Choose refillable items such as printer cartridges, glue etc.

• Use water-based, solvent-free ink, felt tips and marker pens.

General Waste's Challenge - Buy fruit and vegetables loose rather than prepacked.

Shopping provides many opportunities for using your power as a consumer to choose low-waste products.

• Many products can be bought loose e.g. DIY products, such as screws and paint brushes; fruit and vegetables; stationery.

• Buy concentrated products or products sold in refill packs.

• Avoid buying lots of different cleaning products which are designed for different purposes, choose one multi-purpose cleaner instead.

• Buy products made from recycled materials e.g. toilet/kitchen rolls.

• Blank video tapes made from recycled plastic with recycled paper labels are now also available.

• Avoid buying mini portions of food such as cereals, jam and coffee on a regular basis.

• Consider buying items which come in less packaging, eg buy bacon from the deli counter or the butcher.

• Choose products which come in packaging which you know can be recycled.

• Reuse carrier bags as bin liners or take your reusable bags with you to the shops.

• Use crates to take home your shopping, or support 'bag for life' schemes.

General Waste's Challenge - Avoid wasting cooked food.

When thinking about waste, many of us only think of packaging.  However, wasted food has a serious impact on the environment and costs you more than wasted packaging.

• Buy in bulk when appropriate and when you know you can easily store it - eg in the freezer - or that the items will be used up quickly.

• Try not to waste prepared food - use up left-overs for another meal.  For example, left-over cooked potatoes and vegetables can be mashed up, seasoned and fried; old bread makes bread-and-butter pudding; old cheese can be used for cheese on toast or sauces.  

• Over ripe bananas make great banana cake, and you can always squeeze the juice out of ageing oranges. 

• Remember to compost your vegetable peelings.

General Waste's Challenge - Start composting your garden, vegetable and kitchen waste.

Gardeners are very good at finding all kinds of new uses for items which might otherwise end up in the bin. Here are some suggestions:

• Empty, cut-down mineral water bottles can be used as mini 'green houses' for young plants.

• Old carpets, cardboard, newspapers, lawn mowings and shredded prunings make excellent mulch and are useful for killing off weeds.

• Use old wood and pallets to build compost bins.

• Metal coat hangers can be used to pin down plastic covers,  etc.

• Look for products made from recycled materials in the garden centre plant pots; plant pots, containers and garden benches made from recycled plastic, recycled paper liners for hanging baskets; and compost and soil conditioners made from recycled organic materials.

• Support local composting by buying Pro-Grow, the soil conditioner made from garden waste collected from Hampshire homes.  Pro-Grow has been assessed by independent experts as an effective growing medium, a soil improver and mulch. You can buy it from Household Waste Recycling Centres, or to buy in bulk contact Peter Mills of Hampshire Waste Services on 01962 764000.  As featured on BBC Gardener's World and Channel 4's Real Gardens.  It's now certified organic!

General Waste's Challenge - Don't spoil the environment when outdoors.

Employ reusable items and don't leave rubbish behind.

For picnics, barbecues, camping and parties:

• Avoid throw-away crockery, cutlery and cups. Use colourful plastic plates and cups instead if china is not practical.

• If you use paper napkins and table cloths, make sure they're made from recycled paper.

• Avoid 'single use' barbecues.

• Avoid individual portion packaging.

• Don't forget to take your rubbish home.

Just because you no longer need something doesn't mean it has to be thrown away.

• Items in very good condition could be sold via a second-hand shop, small ads in the paper or local newsagent.

• If you are having a big clear out, why not attend a car boot sale or hold a garage sale at your own home.

• Take bric-a-brac to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre - the staff there often have an area set aside and sell items on for a small fee. Contact your local district Recycling Officer for details of your nearest site.

• Donate good quality items such as clothes, records, video tapes, books, crockery, etc, to jumble sales and charity shops. Clean clothing and other textiles including old towels and sheets can be placed in textile banks.

General Waste's Challenge - Repair or donate broken items rather than binning them.

Instead of buying expensive items which are often used for only a short period of time - eg chain saws, hedge trimmers, cement mixers etc - why not consider:

• Hiring.

• Buying them second-hand.

• Sharing large purchases with friends, neighbours or family.

When buying items which are intended to be used regularly, invest in better quality items with longer guarantees. It may cost more, but it will last longer and may enable you to sell the item on when you no longer need it.

Computers. If you are buying a computer, enquire whether it can be upgraded easily without the need for a complete replacement. This means you will only need new components rather than a completely new computer.

When choosing new electronic goods:

• Buy solar-powered items such as pocket calculators and watches.

• Choose products that can use mains power rather than batteries.

• Use rechargeable batteries when appropriate.                    (N.B. Rechargeable batteries are not recommended for some children's toys.)

If you no longer need a piece of electronic equipment, try selling it or donating it before taking it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

General Waste's Challenge - Donate unwanted, good quality clothing and bric-a-brac to jumble sales and charity shops.

Local groups are very good at all kinds of waste reduction activities including bring and buy sales, jumble sales and collecting items such as used stamps, milk bottle tops or aluminium cans which can be sold to raise funds.

Charity shops usually collect used postage stamps, foreign coins, post cards and aluminium foil as well as good quality clothes, toys and bric-a-brac. New gifts and stationery are generally available. Collections can be arranged.

Through your local parish council, set up a local 'waste blitz' scheme.

I hope this booklet has been helpful in letting you know a little more about why we must reduce waste.
So remember:

• Reduce the amount of rubbish you create in the first place.

• Reuse and repair goods whenever possible.

• Recycle what cannot be avoided or reused.

Reducing your waste could:

• Save you money.

• Help your local community.

• Safeguard scarce resources.

For further information on waste reduction and caring for your local environment please contact:

Environment Agency
Tel: 01962 860103
Regional office of national licensing, enforcement, special waste regulation agency.

Global Action Plan
Tel: 0171 405 5633, e-mail: all@gapuk.demon.co.uk
Detailed, step-by-step information packs for householders on waste reduction, energy, shopping, water and travel.

Hampshire County Council
Waste Management Section. Tel: 01962 847021 e-mail: integra@hants.gov.uk
Information on Project Integra - the countywide plan for waste management for the next 25 years; plus general information on waste reduction and recycling; operation of Household Waste Recycling Centres.
The Integra web site is at www.integra.org.uk.

Hampshire Waste Services
Tel: 01962 764000
Bulk orders of Pro-Grow soil conditioner; group trips around recycling facilities; confidential waste paper shredding service for businesses.

Henry Doubleday Research Organisation
Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry. Tel: 01203 303517
Nationwide organic gardening membership organisation - extensive publications list including detailed information on composting, mulching, organic weed and pest control, etc.

Waste Watch
Call the national Wasteline for information on all aspects of waste reduction, recycling, contacts etc.  Tel: 087 0243 0136.

Project Integra is the partnership created to establish and manage the waste strategy for Hampshire. The partners are the councils of Basingstoke & Deane, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant, Hampshire County, New Forest, Portsmouth City, Rushmoor, Southampton City, Test Valley and Winchester, as well as private waste contractor, Hampshire Waste Services, and especially Hampshire's public.