Reducing waste at home

Reducing your waste is the first and most effective action you can take. When buying a product, consider if you need the item or if there is another option with less packaging.

• Avoid plastic and single-use items. Start buying loose and unpackaged items at the supermarket. Check out our beginner’s guide to avoiding single-use items and advanced tips for living a more plastic-free life.
• Shop local and buy in bulk. This helps reduce packaging waste and greenhouse emissions. Consider supporting a local food co-op if you can.
• Grow your own produce at home. You don’t need a large garden to get started. See our tips for creating your own edible garden. 
• Purchase preloved items from clothing swaps, garage sales, charity stores, or online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Trading Post, Ebay, Freecycle or Rosella Street. If you only need an item for a short amount of time, see if you can borrow it from a friend or a tool library first.
• Choose products made from recycled materials.

Reuse is choosing to use an item more than once. Choosing reusable items saves resources and helps stop single-use items from littering our environment.

• Choose products that are reusable, refillable or rechargeable. Avoid disposable and single-use options.
• Use your own cup, cutlery or container when ordering takeaway. Search Responsible Cafes to find cafes near you that are accepting reusable coffee cups.
• Join the preloved community. Get involved with Garage Sale Trail or run your own clothing swap.

Repairing extends the life of your items and places value on what we already own. It reduces waste and saves you money too.

• Check the product warranty to see if it covers repairs. 
• Purchase items with repair services or a lifetime warranty.
• Support local repair organisations such as the Banga Community Shed run by The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre, Cycle Re-cycle Club and Sew Make Create.
• Take items to be fixed. Find a local tailor, shoe cobbler or phone repair shop to help mend damaged items.
• Give it a go yourself using online guides and videos like those on The Social Outfit, iFixIt and YouTube.

Recycling is the less favourable option because of the amount of energy it requires. Try to reduce, reuse and repair items first. However, recycling is still a very important step in avoiding waste to landfill. Recycling helps to close the loop and support the circular economy.

• Buy products that can be recycled. By recycling more, you help keep items out of the red lid bin and landfill – something that could save you money. If you’re a property owner, you may be able to reduce your domestic waste charge by completing the residential waste service application to reduce the size, number or collection frequency of your red lid bins. You can also order extra free yellow lid recycling bins.
• Choose items made from recycled materials. Buying recycled items is an important part of the recycling loop.
• Know what goes in your yellow lid bin and other ways to recycle household items.
• Recycle electronics and batteries correctly. Don’t put them in your household bins.
• Book a free bulky pick-up for old furniture, mattresses, whitegoods, electronics and more.