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How to reduce your rubbish

You can help reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and protect our environment by reducing, reusing and buying recycled.

Reduce

You can reduce the amount of waste you produce at home by:

  • Only buying what you need and will use
  • Planning your meals, and using what is already in your pantry, fridge or freezer
  • Eating leftovers for lunch or freeze them for another night. If you don't like leftovers, modify your recipes so you make less
  • Putting your food scraps in your food and garden waste bin or using a compost bin or worm farm 
  • Putting a 'No Junk Mail' sticker on your letterbox. You can email resource.recovery@whittlesea.vic.gov.au for a 'No Junk Mail' sticker to be mailed to you
  • Taking reuseable bags when you go shopping
  • Buying loose fruit and vegetables or using reusable produce bags
  • Buying food with no packaging or where you can, purchase it in your own container
  • Choosing to buy items with the least amount of recyclable packaging
  • Not using disposable products at home
  • Using bubbles, flags or bunting instead of plastic balloons
  • Avoiding single-use plastics such as straws and simply drink straight from the cup, can or bottle, or use a reusable straw
  • Opt out of receiving phone books
  • Ditching the cling wrap - use containers, jars or beeswax wraps instead
  • Ditching the plastic bin liner and wrapping waste in newspaper instead
  • Turning off lights and electrical appliances when not needed.
  • Using bamboo toothbrushes, combs and hair brushes instead of plastic ones
  • Drinking tap water instead of bottled water
  • Using cloth handkerchiefs
  • Using reusable pads, period underwear or a menstrual cup
  • Using cloth nappies
  • Using bars of soap instead of liquid soap in plastic containers
  • Using rechargeable batteries
  • Using dental floss made from silk instead of plastic 
  • Using shampoo and conditioner soap bars

Re-use

Many products and materials can be used again. For example:

  • Take reuseable bags and fruit and vegetable produce bags when you go shopping
  • Use a bread bag when buying bread from the bakery
  • Take your own food container and shopping bag when buying takeaway food. Find BYO container friendly businesses in the City of Whittlesea. Please note: it is up to individual businesses whether they accept reusable containers. Stores have the right to refuse containers that they feel are unsuitable or unclean 
  • Drink your coffee at the cafe or use a reusable takeaway coffee cup
  • Taking your own reusable water bottle, coffee cup and cutlery
  • Use cloth handkerchiefs
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Reuse glass jars to store and freeze food
  • Cardboard boxes can be used more than once
  • For tips on how to re-use clothing, furniture and toys that are in good condition, see Donate, or sell unwanted household items

Buy recycled

Buying products containing recycled materials further reduces your impact on the environment.

You can buy the following products made from recycled materials:

  • mulch made from recycled organic material - available from the Green waste recycling facility
  • paper products like toilet paper and tissues made from recycled clean office paper are available in your local supermarket
  • compost bins and worm farms that contain recycled plastic
  • recycled rubber computer mouse mats
  • recycled plastic playground equipment
  • concrete

Many recycled products can be found in your local supermarket.

Groups and organisations

There are a number of groups and organisations that can provide further information on waste minimisation, or that support the effort to reduce waste. Below are a few examples: 

Find out about

How to dispose of unwanted household items
Donate or sell unwanted household items
Composting and worm farming