Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Every day we are using up the Earth's limited natural resources to make everyday items like newspapers, cans and glass bottles. Too many of these products are discarded as waste when they could be re-used or recycled to protect our environment.

We should all be trying to reduce the amount of waste we produce and there are plenty of ways in which we can do this. Our choice in the products we buy can dictate how much waste we produce and by choosing carefully we can also put pressure on producers to use less packaging.

We can also ensure that we buy products that can be re-used, for their original or for some other purpose, meaning that they do not have to be thrown away. We can all do our bit to help change things for the better - usually without much effort.

On average, every person in the UK throws away their own body weight (about 500kg) in rubbish every 7 weeks and every year UK households throw away the equivalent of 3.5 million double-decker buses.

As well as the environmental damage this causes, also it will soon cost local authorities £35 per tonne in landfill tax to dispose of waste. Although recycling helps, it’s only part of the story – we need to do something radical to cut down on the amount we throw away in the first place.

A range of projects will soon be launched to improve Ashford’s waste management and resource efficiency, starting with householders, town centre businesses and construction companies. 

For more information please visit the ReMaDe Kent & Medway Website and Waste Watch.