How to Reduce Packaging Waste
Zero Waste Week
This week is Zero Waste Week, an opportunity to consider what happens when we dispose of packaging waste and other rubbish. We explore if there are alternative options to reduce the volume of rubbish being sent to landfill.
Where does the Litter Go?
During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the refuge collectors went on strike. With the city full of visitors, it didn’t take long for the bins to overflow and the magnificent and historic city to look unsightly.
It was shocking, yet, where does all of this litter go when waste collection services are fully operational? The bins may be emptied, yet, the rubbish doesn’t just disappear. If separated, some materials are suitable for recycling and others for composting. The rest is incinerated or added to the growing mounds of landfill; neither of these options is environmentally ideal.
Packaging is a common waste item in household and commercial bins. Provisional data for 2021* indicates that 12,696 thousand tonnes of packaging waste were disposed of on in the UK. Of this, 63.2% were recovered and recycled.
Individuals and companies can play a part in reducing the total waste volume and increasing recycling rates. That is the aim of Zero Waste Week.
What is in the Waste Bin?
A good starting point is to become aware of what is in the bin. A waste audit is a list of everything that is being disposed of. The list can be categorised depending on where it is going. Is it suitable for:
- Composting
- Reuse, Repurposing or Refilling
- Donating
- Recycling
Or is it destined for landfill?
Explore the Alternatives for Reducing Waste to Landfill
When you know what’s in the waste bin, you might notice a predominance of certain packaging items. There is often a way to lower the volume of this waste by opting for no or less packaging or with packaging that can be easily refilled, reused or recycled.
What about items that can’t be put in the home or business recycling bin? There could be other options out there. As an example, some of the larger supermarkets offer collection points for soft plastics, batteries and plastic coat hangers. Terracycle provides details of other schemes and their locations.
For businesses, a conversation with your local packaging supplier could inform you of alternative options. Also, ask about ways to make your packaging reusable. If your suppliers use excessive packaging in deliveries, get in touch to discuss. If there’s no change, look for a new supplier.
Other ways to reduce waste include working with companies like Zero Waste Recycling, which supplies and collects bins for items including ink cartridges. There is also the option of becoming a Terracycle Community Drop-off Point.
What Could Be Donated?
Some of the items you no longer need could be just the thing that someone else is looking for. If in good condition, the clothes that no longer fit, your old tools and pre-loved furniture could all be donated to charitable organisations like these:
https://workaid.org/donate-tools
For businesses, the offcuts of paper, timber, textiles and more could provide craft materials for schools and community groups. Find your local scrapstore to arrange donations. Excess office furniture is collected by companies including https://recycledbusinessfurniture.co.uk/.
Ditch the Disposables
Many bins include disposable items such as coffee cups and plastic bottles. These can be eliminated by changing habits. Encourage the use of mugs, glasses and water bottles at home and work. There are financial and environmental benefits to making your own cuppa or filling up from the tap or water cooler.
What other swaps could you make to ditch the disposables?
Aylesbury Box Company Waste Audit
We have made a concerted effort to minimise waste and the associated costs. Earlier this year, we undertook an audit. It transpired that, by weight, cardboard (offcuts from the box manufacturing process, along with rejected boxes) made up 98% of our waste. All of this is collected and recycled. Once processed, some will make it back to us, ready to make new boxes!
We contacted our collection company to understand what happened to the 2% non-recyclable waste. We learnt it was incinerated, a process that generates energy. As one of our green credentials, we’re on a mission to further reduce non-recyclables.
* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-waste-data/uk-statistics-on-waste
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