Reduce, Repair/Reuse, Recycle (Compost)

In Leeds over 340,000 tonnes of waste is generated every year; that's about enough to fill the Corn Exchange every half hour. A lot of this ‘waste’ could still be used.

Reduce
 

Reducing waste is the first important step. We, as consumers, can think about whether we really need those individually wrapped items. Try to buy products with minimal packaging and buy loose fruit and veg, you could always carry it home in a re-used carrier bag. Reusable bags are available in many stores in Leeds and the Union passed a motion to stop using them at Union shops. You can also stop the annoying junk mail you get though your door by registering at www.mpsonline.org.uk
 

Repair / Reuse

By repairing and reusing items, you are saving them from landfill as well as savings in your pocket. When repairing items such as bikes, clothes, mobiles, chairs, etc.. why not turn it into a skill-share? Skill-shares happen regularly at the Peanut Gallery and Common Place (Getting Involved). After all, many hands make light work. Spreading the knowledge will make people's lives easier, reduce landfill, use people's creativity and best of all can be lots of fun!

Any plastic bottle can be refilled at a tap and yoghurt pots/milk bottles make great seed trays for your seedlings.
Unwanted clothes and household items can be handed into charity shops, given away through [[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycleleeds|Freecycle]] or placed in the swap shop in the Peanut Gallery. They are sure to find better homes here than landfill will ever make.  [[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycleleeds|Freecycle]] is also great for getting this that you need like sofas, jam jars e.t.c.

Let’s make rechargeable batteries the norm – standard ones contain strong acids that poison the land around landfill sites.

Recycle

Leeds has a green bins that should be collected monthly, if you have problems then call them 0113 398 4760

Compost!

About one third of the rubbish in your bin can be composted to create a nutrient rich soil. The Uni has introduced compost bins all over so there is no excuse, be a rotter!
 

Why compost?

Well organic waste in landfill sites produces environmental pollutants including methane, a greenhouse gas responsible or global warming. If you can lay your hands on a bucket with a lid, put this in your kitchen, and you can throw in fruit and veg peelings, any garden bits (if you have one), tea bags an coffee grounds, eggshells, scrunched up paper and card + lots more. Cooked food and dairy products are best left out.

Where do I take it?

If you don't have a garden to use it on, you could take your compost to one of the allotments in Leeds. The Green Action society has an allotment where you can take your compost; get in touch with them for more info: unigreenleeds [dot] ac [dot] uk