Waste
What's the issue?
What we buy
Everything we buy has an environmental cost. As well as the raw materials involved, things need to manufactured, transported before you even start using it. When we've finished with it, we then have the additional carbon cost of disposing of it.
The most carbon efficient way you can address this is to not buy something in the first place.
Fast Fashion: What does it mean and why is it such a bad thing?
What we do with it when we've finished with it
Every time throw something away, something needs to be done with it. It needs to be transported somewhere and then dealt with in some way, possibly recycled or possibly sent to a landfill, where it will continue to cause ecological damage for hundreds of years.
Dealing with waste, does not need to be just about putting something in the right coloured bin.
What we can do about it
Shop sustainably
Buy second hand
Didsbury has some of the best charity shops in Manchester. You will find nearly new clothes for a fraction of the shop price and no one will even notice.
It's become very cool to wear pre-loved clothes. There are loads of online outlets like vinted and depop where you can buy and sell your clothes.
Have some fun at Christmas or birthdays, by insisting on only second hand presents for the whole family. If you don't like what you get, just take it back to the charity shop!
Make do and mend
Do you need to throw away clothes if they need patching up or don't fit any more. If you don't have the necessary skills, many dry cleaners offer repair and alteration services.
Make the most of your local library
Why buy new books when you can borrow for free? Did you know that you can reserve books online and the library service will notify you when the book is ready for collection. The library even subscribes to a hugs set of magazines that you can download for free if you have a library account.
Register and reserve here or load the mobile app
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We talk about recycling as the environmental choice. It's much better than disposing of course course, but there is much more that we can do. Think about these 4 Rs.
Ask yourself:
Do I need to buy this?
Can I buy less of it?
Rather than dispose of it, can I reuse it?
If you need to recycle, make sure you know what can go in which bin
Recycle everything
There are lots of items that you can't put in the recycling bins. However, there are many schemes around to stop items going into the black bin (destined for landfill).
Terracycle maintain a page with many options for how to you can recycle many products from Gillette razors to disposable pens
Tesco's at Parrs Wood now collect soft plastics that don't go in the blue bin. Just drop them in the collection rack.
Gift your old phone through Community Calling. You phone will be cleaned, wiped and redistributed to someone in need.
Find out more about recycling
You can visit the recycling centre at Longley Lane in Northenden to learn about what happens to your waste after it gets taken away.
The fifth R - Rot
Every thought of composting. Much of what goes into the green bin, doesn't need to. If you've got a garden, get a compost bin and stick the compostable items in there. Saves on transport, processing and landfill.
Use zero waste shops
We have the most amazing options for zero waste shop. The idea is that you take your containers, weight them, and fill them up. There is one within walking distance of almost everyone in Didsbury:
Find another user
Your unwanted goods are someone else desirable items. Before something goes into the bin, think about how it can be used.
Sell it on ebay if you can post it or gumtree if you want someone to collect it. Try Freecycle if you're just trying to give it away and need it gone quickly.
Take it to a charity shop
Recycle your old electronic items: RecycleReBuild