Consume less, reuse more and recognise that there is no waste, only resources to be managed

Whether you’re a business, an individual, a family or household, business, public sector organisation, housing association or whatever, the first thing you can do is start to see the value in waste and in managing waste resources responsibly for the benefit of your local community and the wider world beyond. And follow the pointers below.

1. Be smarter

Recognise the value of waste. Metal, wood, textiles and plastics can all be recycled into new products. If you throw stuff into landfill or an incinerator then the material is lost forever, you create more pollution and you stifle innovation and local job creation.

2. Donate to local organisations

When you want rid of something, think about where it’s going. Find your local reuse organisation and ask them if they want what you have. Many will uplift bulkier items for free and they’ll often repair larger household appliances. You can find a CRNS member using our online search tool.

3. Repair and reuse

Repair stuff when it breaks and buy second-hand rather than new to save the world’s resources. Most reuse organisations operate a retail unit where they sell quality reused items and unique second-hand gems. You can find out which reuse organisations have a shop using the Find a member search tool.

4. Support local enterprises

If you’re a business looking to recycle more, choose a local supplier to deliver that service. Organisations such as Changeworks Recycling in Edinburgh, GREAN in Golspie, Moffat CAN in the Borders and ACE in Alloa work to deliver benefits to their local communities as a by product of their professional work. If you’re a householder that can use the services of a local kerbside recycler or community composter, then please support that enterprise when you can.

5. Realise the difficulties

Reuse and recycling organisations would like to take everything you have to offer them but many operate on modest margins and some items are difficult to recycle (broken gym equipment and broken sofas, for example). We should be demanding that manufacturers don’t make products that can’t be easily recycled at the end of their life.