Why is it important to reduce, recycle and reuse?

There are only so much of the resources needed to make glass, metal, plastic and paper in the world. If they run out, we won't be able to get any more. There are really easy ways that we can all do our bit to try to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Reduce it!

What can we do to reduce our waste?

• Try to buy less. Before you buy something make sure you really like it and want it
• The next time whoever does the food shopping in your house, brings home food, check how much packaging there is on it. Can you find ways that they could reduce it?

Re-use it!

• Organise a swap shop day at your school or youth club where you bring items you don't want anymore and pick up some things you do for free
• Get your parent or carer to take old stuff that you don't need to charity shops or a car boot sale
• Did you know, as well as books you can borrow CDs and DVDs from libraries?
• Don't keep getting plastic bags from shops, reuse the ones you have or better still, get a bag of your own - there are some cool ones out there
• Get your family to switch to using rechargeable batteries.

Recycle it!

Recycling is when we find new uses for old things rather than chuck them in the bin. It can be fun!!

• Find out what you can go in your black box to be recycled : http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=221,75192&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
• Create a quiz for your family about what can and can't be recycled. The loser has to take the rubbish out for the next month!
• Put a recycling container next to your bin to remind you to recycle
• Do you have a composter? If you have even a small garden it's worth getting one to put old bits of vegetable and garden waste in. This can then be put back on the garden so you don't have to waste money on buying compost from the garden centre
• Find out what your school is doing to recycle.