Reducing your waste

How you can reduce waste even further.

There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes into your bin each week. From minimising food waste, to switching to reusable nappies, to learning more about recycling with our Waste and Recycling Advisors.

Love Food Hate Waste

Wasting food costs the average family £680 a year or a couple £480.

Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) can help you to save money and learn some handy tips through:

  • savvy storage
  • perfect portion sizes
  • knowing your dates
  • loving your left overs
  • planning ahead

If you have food that cannot be eaten later then you may want to consider composting, a natural process that transforms food waste into valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden.

LFHW training materials are available and can be used as a tool in:

  • supporting families - LFHW can help families to save money, manage their money better, cook and eat together, give teenagers skills they will need when they leave home, and help families to work together
  • promoting healthy eating - LFHW helps people manage portions, know how best to store food and make the most of their food
  • community development - LFHW encourages people to share information, hints and tips
  • libraries and information - LFHW provides a wealth of information to help consumers
  • adult education - LFHW messages can be incorporated in cookery classes, IT, numeracy and literacy classes

If you would like an LFHW training pack email leedsrecycles@leeds.gov.uk.

Reusable nappies

The average baby will need changing 5,000 times and in one year alone a baby can fill 12 wheelie bins with disposable nappies.

Reusable nappies are better for the planet. Using them can also work out cheaper in the long run than disposable nappies. Leeds Cloth Nappy Library can give advice and support to anyone who wants to use reusable nappies.

Education

If you’d like to find out more recycling in Leeds, you can book a tour at the recycling and energy recovery facility where we manage your black bin waste.

For further tour information and to request a place, please email leeds.enquiries@veolia.co.uk to get a booking form.

How to avoid junk mail

If you are fed up of receiving endless junk mail, you can opt out of addressed junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Scheme. You can also opt out of receiving flyers delivered by your postie.

There are lots of other hint and tips on the Stop Junk Mail website, where you can also purchase "Stop Junk mail" door stickers.

If you do all of this and junk mail still arrives on your doormat, don’t forget that you can put it all in your green recycling bin or green sack for recycling.