The waste hierarchy has clear priorities:
top of the list is reduce, next is reuse, and then comes recycle. So recycling is good and Somerset’s 56.2% recycle rate is excellent. But reuse is even better, and – by preventing waste at source – reduce is best of all.
Reduce Week 2022 is from Monday 21 to Sunday 27 November, just ahead of Christmas waste-fest and around spend-all Black Friday and spend-nowt Buy Nothing Day on 25 November. Reducing the waste we make has many obvious benefits, from saving money, materials, time and energy to cutting carbon and avoiding clutter and mess.
Reduce Week highlights easy reduce steps we can all take to save money and live better by cutting back the tonne or so of rubbish and recycling each Somerset family creates every year. Reduce can range from using up leftovers so not a scrap of food is wasted to taking a long hard look at so-called cheap deals, and switching from physical to digital for Christmas gifts.
For more, watch for Reduce Week on Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor, join the Talking Café at 1pm on Wednesday 23rd Nov: facebook.com/watch/?v=796015231657314
Visit somersetwaste.gov.uk/reduce-week , and see how you can contribute your ideas and know-how to enter a free prize draw.
Question: how do you reduce?
Somerset Waste want your ideas – and pictures or videos – on reducing waste, from tips on using up food to better festive giving and cutting back packaging. Share on social media when you see “how do you reduce?” posts .
Email suggestions to recycle@somersetwaste.gov.uk.
Best ideas will feature on social media and beyond, and go into a free prize draw for a refurbished tablet or laptop.