Reduce and reuse

To waste less we must reuse what we have and reduce what we buy

Before you make that purchase, ask yourself - do I really NEED this? From clothing to the latest tech items, we are often made to feel that we must have them. However, if we already have something that does the job, is making that new purchase really necesssary? Let's put things into perspective...

How good are we really at reducing and reusing?

Click the plus signs below to find out

Single use cups

Single use cups

Source: Zero Waste Scotland

The average person in Scotland uses a whopping 71 single use coffee cups per year

Clothing

Using what we have

Source: WRAP

The average UK adult keeps upwards of 118 items of clothes in their wardrobes, but one quarter (26% - 31 items) have not been worn for at least a year?

Fashion waste

Source: Business Waste

Every year a shocking 7kg of fashion waste per person goes to landfill

School uniforms

Source: Business Waste

4 million school uniforms are thrown away each year in the UK.

Food

Food waste

The average household spends £470 on food that ends up in the bin every year

What can we do to change this?

The biggest and most important change you can make is reducing what you buy. If you don't need it, don't buy it. For those items you do need, it's about finding ways we can keep reusing those without having to throw it in the bin.

Simple ways to reduce your household waste

Avoid impulse buying items and buy only what you really need. 71% of Brits' impulse purchases are thrown out (Source: AnyJunk)
Got a big event coming up? Swap or rent your outfit instead of buying.
Avoid buying single use products. Find a reusable alternative instead.
Use refill stations for cosmetics and cleaning products.
Got a DIY project and need a tool to make it happen? Borrow from a friend or a tool library instead of buying.
Sell – next time you decide you want to have a refresh and want to get rid of something think of selling sites like eBay, Vinted, Facebook marketplace etc before throwing it out.
Re-gift – something that doesn't suit you, may be great for someone else
Donate unwanted items to charity

Reducing food and drink waste

Bring your own reusable water bottle and cup.
Bring your own reusable bag with you.
Buy loose fruit and veg without packaging.
Use zero-waste stores.
Bring Tupperware to a restaurant and take home your leftovers.
Make a meal plan and shopping list before going to the shops
Try not to go shopping when you are hungry!
Use short dated products first
Use leftovers to make new and exciting dishes
Use apps like “Too Good to go”
Store items well to avoid deterioration
Check the temperature of your fridge and freezer
Freeze leftovers
Use recipe websites/apps to use up leftovers in your fridge, for example Supercook and MyFridgeFood

Sharing Libraries

Sharing libraries are set up to share items across your community. Source, borrow and return – this keeps an item actively in circulation for as long as possible rather than cluttering our cupboards and being used infrequently.

It expands the lifecycle of a product, reduces the number in circulation, saves money and means less impact on the planet

Sharing libraries are great for when you need, for example, a tool for a DIY project that you are only likely to need until this project is complete. Being able to borrow means reduced waste and also reduced cost – a win-win!

Services in Lanarkshire

Airdrie Community School Uniform Bank

Town: Airdrie

Services offered:

Preloved clothing - everyday clothes, outdoor wear, occassion wear, interview clothes, school uniform and school accessories
Donation stations in local Supermarkets
Season donations and gifting e.g. Christmas gifts, Halloween costumes