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The choices we make when we go shopping affect how much waste ends up in our bins. Making a list, buying products with no or little packaging and choosing reusable alternatives are just some of the ways you can help to reduce waste.
If you would like to find out more please call 0845 602 3350 |
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The average Scottish consumer wastes £1,597 per year on goods and services that they don’t use. £438 of this is uneaten food.
Writing a list before you go shopping will help you buy only the things you need. Using scrap paper or used envelopes to make your list will help reduce paper waste. |
In Scotland we throw away over 2,500 tonnes of packaging waste every day, most of which ends up in landfill. Here are some suggestions of how you can reduce packaging when you go shopping:
- Where possible buy loose fruit and vegetables.
- Many stationery shops sell loose pens, pencils and rulers instead of packaged ones.
- Where possible buy items with packaging that is easy to recycle.
- You may be able to sign up to a vegetable box scheme. These schemes often deliver vegetables loose or in recyclable or returnable packaging. Below are two schemes that operate in parts of Tayside.
www.bee-organic.co.uk
www.bellfield-organics.com
- If you do see an item that is over-packaged here are some things you can do:
- Contact the retailer either by visiting the shop or by writing to them about your concerns.
- Write to the producer of the product, most products have contact details on them.
- The Consumer Direct Website has a series of template letters that you can use to complain about excess packaging www.consumerdirect.gov.uk. You can also call Consumer Direct on 0845 04 05 06.
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Try to avoid buying disposable items such as razors, tissues and batteries where refillable or rechargeable alternatives are available, as this will save packaging waste. See the table below for some suggestions:
| Disposable Item |
Alternative |
| Paper towels |
Washable tea towels/dishcloths |
| Tissues |
Handkerchiefs |
| Aluminium trays |
Baking tins |
| Plastic cling film |
Reusable containers with lids |
| Paper dust cloths |
Washable dusters |
| Razors |
Replaceable blade razors |
| Pens |
Refill only or a fountain pen |
| Paper napkins |
Washable cloth napkin |
| Batteries |
Rechargeable batteries |
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 Every year billions of shopping bags are given away - many of them end up in landfill sites. Here are some ways you can reduce and reuse the number you use:
- Refuse to take bags that you don’t need. There are some things that you just don’t need a bag for, so next time you are offered a bag, think before you take one.
- Reuse the bags you already have and look out for longer life alternatives. Try keeping a few bags in the car, at work or in a pocket, so that they are always on hand.
- Look out for reuse incentive schemes run by some supermarkets.
- Recycle the bags you no longer need.
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 Buying products made from recycled materials helps to close the recycling loop and create markets for recycled materials. There are also a wide range of waste aware products available, which help to minimise environmental impacts by reducing waste in their manufacture, use or disposal. Here are just a few examples:
- You can buy recycled household products such as toilet roll, kitchen roll and bin liners from many supermarkets.
- Recycled stationery such as pens, pencils, paper, rulers and mouse mats are available.
- There are lots of products that can help you to reduce the number of batteries you use, including wind up toys, radios and remote controls, solar powered lights and water powered clocks.
More information on where to buy recycled products can be found under the reduce and reuse sections of Sort It. |
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