Doing Your Own Recycling (and Not Throwing Stuff Away)


 

Doing Your Own Recycling (and Not Throwing Stuff Away)

There’s a moment we all know. You’re holding something broken, empty, or “past its best” and the bin lid is already halfway open. Job done, problem gone. Except… it isn’t. It’s just been moved somewhere else.

Doing your own recycling – and better still, not throwing things away in the first place – is one of the quiet superpowers of greener living. No flashy tech. No grants. Just habits that add up.

Step 1: Reduce beats recycle (every time)

Recycling is good. Not creating waste is better.
Before something becomes “rubbish”, ask:

  • Do I really need this?

  • Is there a refill or loose version?

  • Can I buy one good version instead of three cheap ones?

Less packaging in = less guilt out.

Step 2: Reuse like it’s 1975

Your grandparents weren’t “eco”. They were just practical.

  • Glass jars → screws, nails, rice, lentils

  • Old takeaway tubs → freezer meals

  • Cardboard boxes → storage, posting, kids’ projects

If it has another life, it’s not waste yet.

Step 3: Repair is rebellion

A wobbly chair leg. A kettle that won’t switch on. A zip that’s stuck.

  • Often it’s a £2 part, not a £60 replacement.

  • Repair cafés are springing up everywhere.

  • YouTube now knows how to fix everything.

Every repair is a small act of defiance against landfill.

Step 4: Compost the right stuff

Food waste doesn’t belong in a black bin.

  • Veg peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells → compost

  • Garden waste → mulch or compost heap

  • Even a small food caddy makes a difference

That “waste” becomes soil, not methane.

Step 5: Recycle properly (not wishfully)

Putting the wrong thing in recycling doesn’t help – it can ruin a whole batch.

  • Rinse containers (no need to scrub like a surgeon)

  • Learn what your local council actually accepts

  • When in doubt, check – not guess

Good recycling beats optimistic recycling.

The quiet win

Doing your own recycling isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about:

  • Fewer bin bags

  • Fewer replacement purchases

  • A bit more respect for the stuff we already have

And yes – it saves money too.

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