Slim Your Bin

What can we do to create less waste?

There are various different ways we can manage the waste we produce

• First of all we need to reduce the amount of waste we create
• Secondly we need to think about what materials we can use again instead of throwing them away
• Thirdly we need to think about what waste materials can be recycled and reprocessed into something new

This process is known as the three R's.

What are the 3 R's?

Reduce

To start with you can reduce the amount of rubbish you create in the first place. You can do this by reducing the amount of things you buy that have lots of packaging. By doing this you will have less to throw away and reduce the rubbish you create.

Here are some tips on how you can reduce your waste:

• Try not to buy new toys and games if you don't need to - try repairing, renting, or buying second-hand items, or things that are made to last.
• Cut down on unwanted junk mail by asking your parents or guardians to put a 'no junk mail please' sticker on your door and asking them to register with the mailing preference service.
• Reducing waste paper. Make better use of your paper at school by using both sides.
• Try and buy toys and games that are made from recycled materials.
• Reduce the number of bags you use at the shops by getting your parents to use their own bags that can be used over and over again.

Re-use

If you can re-use your materials over and over again this means that you are not creating waste. This is even better than recycling it, as it does not require any more energy.

Here are some tips on how you can reuse the waste materials you create:

• Before you throw something away think about what else you could do with it. For example donate reusable toys, books and clothing to local charities.
• Use rechargeable batteries that you can use many times for your games where possible.
• Give your magazines and comics to your local doctor's surgery or dentist for people to reuse and read in the waiting room.
• Use flasks or bottles that can be used again instead of drinks cartons or cans that you throw away.
• Make a list of your school materials and think about what you can reuse before buying new supplies.
• Reuse boxes and jars for storage of toys and games, and keep wrapping paper and ribbons for future use.

Recycle

A lot of the waste materials we throw away can be used again or recycled to make something new.

Luckily South Lakeland District Council provide you and your family with facilities known as recycling banks, recycling centres or bring sites where you can take your waste such as paper, cans, glass jars and bottles to be recycled and turned into something new.

Some areas even have kerbside collections which means you can put your recyclable materials in a box for the waste operator to collect from right outside your house.

After your recyclable materials have been collected they are taken to a central depot where they are sorted and baled into loads. Sometimes the vehicles that collect your waste from the kerbside collection scheme will be able to separate the materials on the collection route before returning to the depot.

All the other materials are taken to a Materials Reclamation Facility also known as an MRF. An MRF is a large conveyor belt where the recyclable materials pass down, with workers picking out the individual material types, ready to be baled into loads. The loads are taken to reprocessors throughout the UK. The reprocessors then turn them back into new products to be used again.