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As we approach Global Day Against Waste and Incineration on 14th July we are talking rubbish in this column!  Last week we introduced what is waste, and discussed why it matters that we are producing more waste than ever before.  In short it matters because we are using up the earth's natural resources to make products which we then throw away; this is not "sustainable", i.e. it cannot continue indefinitely.  We also introduced the concept of the waste hierarchy which specifies in order of preference the range of options for dealing with our wastes: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Disposal.

This week we will be talking about the two most desirable options in the waste hierarchy; reduction and reuse - i.e. how can we produce less waste that needs to be treated or disposed of?

Reducing Waste At Home

Waste reduction is defined as the prevention of waste at source or as eliminating waste before it is created.  It can start at the point of consumption by choosing products and services with the least environmental impact.  As consumers we can all make a difference if we only buy the right quantity of what we really need, choose products with less packaging, and buy from producers employing sustainable practices.

Product durability and life span are now receiving increasing attention from consumers.  Of particular interest are items such as computers and domestic appliances such as microwaves and fridges.  Research indicates that the average life of consumer durable goods has actually fallen in recent years.  When choosing products the longevity of the product should be factored into choice.  A sofa that lasts 10 years may be preferable to the designer model that will disintegrate or go out of fashion quickly.  So when you are buying a new domestic product it is sensible to consider how long is it really going to last, and can it be repaired? - Both of these factors will help you to judge the real cost of the product  - to the environment and to your pocket!

We can also cut down on the amount of rubbish we have to get rid of by reusing our materials.  Computers, furniture, clothing - so many items can be reused by other people such as school and community groups.  Setting the printer to print on both sides of a sheet of paper, repairing our broken appliances and shoes or finding a charity that will make use of them - we help ourselves and others, and delay the point at which materials become waste.

Thousands of disposable nappies are thrown away in Swaziland each day creating a massive amount of waste.  Try using real cloth nappies which can be re-used and cost less than half that of using disposables.  Further savings can be achieved by using the same real nappies for your second or third child.

So in summary we can all save money, and reduce waste by thinking about what we buy - whether we really need the product, or if there is an alternative which might last longer, or could be re-used by other people.  

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