RECYCLING
Pack it in
Easter eggs; spring sales;
it is a busy time at the
shops – and a busy time
for your bins as they fill
up with packaging, often
unnecessarily. But it does
not have to be this way.
P
ackaging makes up about a fifth of our
household waste. Most of the products we
buy need some form of packaging to help
us carry, store and preserve the products
but there is sometimes more than is necessary.
The packaging you cannot avoid can usually
be recycled. Most cardboard, paper, glass and
plastic can be. Even foil, if it is clean and passes
the scrunch test (if it stays scrunched, it is
usually recyclable).
However, by shopping smartly you can also
reduce this waste in the first place, by choosing
products with less or no packaging. This may
even save you money. Apart from simply avoiding
overly-packaged items, there are some easy ways
to do this:
Choose refillable or reusable products,
for example rechargeable batteries. Some
cleaning products only need a refill pouch, so buy
these instead of disposable products
Buy concentrated products. Do not forget
to follow the measurement guidelines, you
will be surprised how much less you need to use
Buy in bulk. Products with a long life,
like cereals, can be purchased in large
packages. Buying in bulk means less packaging
because you will need fewer trips to the shops
Do not waste food. Visit Love Food Hate
Waste (www.lovefoodhatewaste.com) for tips.
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around ealing
Spring 2015
From hangers to carpet
If you are having a clear out or garden tidy up, do not forget
the many items that can be recycled at your local recycling
and re-use centre, including wooden fences, guttering, plastic
garden furniture, old flower pots and much more.
Many items can be recycled at Greenford Re-use and Recycling
Centre, in Greenford Road, including some that residents may
not be aware of – including plastic coat hangers, mattresses,
books, carpet, tyres, gas cylinders, and much more. Visit
www.ealing,gov.uk/recycling for further information.
Changes to our Greenford centre, and the one in Stirling
Road, Acton, have been made to make them easier to use
– including new signs and containers. The project was fully
sponsored by the London Waste and Recycling Board.