Protecting our coast starts at home
What we throw away can have an impact beyond our bins. Reducing the plastic and packaging we use means less waste to manage and less chance of it ending up in the environment. Across our coastal communities, lots of small changes at home can add up to a bigger difference.
Everything we buy must be packaged in some way but there are ways of reducing the amount of packaging we produce.
Some household cleaning products and toiletries now come in refill containers, for example liquid soap can be bought in bulk and then dispensers topped up. Look for your local refill shop and take your containers to be refilled. If you don’t live near a refill shop, subscriptions are available for cleaning products and toiletries.
With a bit of imagination, old clothes and fabrics can be transformed into unique new items of clothing.
Charity shops and second-hand marketplace websites are great places to find bargains, from books to bicycles. There will always be things we buy brand new – second hand underwear anyone? – but before buying, ask yourself if you need to buy brand new or if buying second hand is possible. Look for reusable options such as batteries.
Consider buying second hand, either in charity shops or online.
Reduce packaging through refill or subscription options.
Swap single-use items for reusable alternatives where it works for you.
Notice what is in your bin – could any waste have been avoided?
North Yorkshire Council offers kerbside collection for an array of materials including paper, cardboard, most glass and some plastic containers but there are some things which they don’t currently collect.
Bins, recycling and waste | North Yorkshire Council Soft plastics can now be taken to large supermarkets. Toiletry and make up packaging as well as medication blister packaging can be taken to most Boots shops. Household waste recovery centres can now take many items including electrical appliances. Look up items on this website Recycle an Item | Recycle Now.
Organic waste such as food goes to an anaerobic digestion plant where it rots down and produces biogas which is used to generate electricity. Other waste is burnt to generate electricity.
How much waste could you cut at home?
Take our quick waste check to spot simple ways you could reduce, reuse and recycle more at home.
Tick what you’re already doing, then choose one small change to try next.
Simple changes you can start today