What we’re doing 

We are working on a new waste strategy for the city. This will prioritise reducing waste, recycling correctly, and reducing carbon emission and working in partnership with to manage the city’s Eastcroft Energy-from-Waste facility, which provides steam for the district heating network. 

What can you do? 

Everything you buy has a carbon footprint. From clothes to electricals, reducing what you buy and reusing what you have is so important. Even when items are labelled as ‘eco’ or ‘sustainable’, the most sustainable option is to buy less. Rather than buying new, why not try to buy second-hand? There are lots of bargains to be found in charity shops or on auction websites.

When an item comes to the end of its useable life, recycle it where possible. But remember, whilst there are lots of very good reasons to recycle, such as helping to limit waste and keep where we live clean and tidy, the carbon savings from recycling are low, so it shouldn’t be used to justify excess.

See below for some tips on how to limit your waste and find out where things should go when they absolutely have to be thrown away. 

Reduce what you use and throw out

🥗 Avoid food waste 

Globally, 25-30% of food produced is wasted. Some of this happens in the supply chain, but as much as 60% of this occurs in the home, so not only is that edible food and energy going to waste, so is a lot of our money.

Luckily there are simple things you can do to limit food waste, such as having a dedicated shelf for food close to its use by date, or ensuring your fridge temperature is right. There's loads of advice and recipes on the Love Food Hate Waste website.

👟 Avoid fast fashion 

It's very easy to get caught up in coveting the latest styles or looking for a quick fix because you can't wear that outfit to an occasion again, but often we find ourselves questioning what we were thinking on these snap purchases further down the line. Buying poor quality items in here-today-gone-tomorrow trends leaves many items destined for landfill, as they have limited value to the resale or donation markets, so making more considerate purchases is better for our pockets and the planet.

Re-use what you have

👜 Take your reusables with you

Bags, straws, bottles, cutlery, lunchboxes - there's loads of good quality, waste avoiding re-useables out there. You can buy them, or re-purpose something like a takeaway container or jar to transport food on the go for free. You can save yourself money by topping up your reusable bottle at a refill station and many coffee shops and cafes offer discounts for those bringing their own reusable containers too.

Make it a habit to take your re-useable items with you, keep them in your bag or somewhere you will spot them before heading out the door.

🥻 Buy second-hand, swap and donate

There are loads of websites that will help you buy and sell your used items, from clothes to electricals, household items to stuff for your pets. You can often find items in new or nearly new condition at big savings - and nobody will ever know you bought it second hand, unless you want them to!

Find a new home for unwanted items by offering them to others in your community. You can swap things you don't need or are looking for at websites such as Freecycle or Freegle

🔨 Repair or upcycle pre-loved items

Don't necessarily give up on your stuff when it's looking past it's best, sometimes it's possible to breath live into things we've previously neglected or worn out. Clothes that are looking a bit tired can often be made good as new with a DIY re-dye or some stylish visible mending. New furniture can get an edgy update with new upholstery, replacing handles or a re-paint. You can often pick up second hand furniture really cheaply from auctions of charity shops.

For more complex fixes, you might be able to get an expert to help you for free at a local Fixers Repair Café

Recycle wherever possible

♻ Know what you can and can't recycle

Make sure you put the right stuff in the right bin. If you are unsure, put it in your green bin, as recycling being contaminated with the wrong waste could lead to your bin not being collected, or if it finds it's way into the lorry could result in the whole load being un-recyclable. 

Some items might need to be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, or for you to arrange bulky waste collection. 

Find out what you can and can't recycle in Nottingham City here.

🥕 Compost your food waste

Food waste going to landfill produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Due to different processes taking place, there is as much as a 50% reduction in methane produced when you compost, plus you've got some rich material to put back into your garden which in turn will help your soil to hold more carbon. Nottingham is in the process of developing a system for food waste collections, following a trial in Berridge Ward. Until kerb side collections arrive, you can compost your food scraps at home or at a local community garden. You can find a community garden that might be happy to take your food waste here.