Small acts with a big impact

Last updated: 12 October 2023
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Even the smallest acts can make a big impact when it comes to creating a sustainable future. Whether it’s remembering your reusables, planning weekday dinners, checking what can go into each of your bins or taking used batteries to a drop-off point for recycling – there are many simple things you can do to help reduce waste and recycle more.

Discover some of the small yet powerful actions you can take and find out how these small acts are having a positive impact for our environment.

Use a reusable coffee cup
Switching to reusable coffee cups and remembering to take them every time you get a takeaway coffee reduces litter and the amount of waste in landfill, protects the planet by saving natural resources and saves you money.
Check what goes into your bins on your council website
Waste and recycling services can change and differ between councils. Checking your council website to make sure the right thing goes in the right bin means more of our resources can be recovered and less goes to landfill.
Remember your reusable bags
Remembering your reusable bags when you go shopping is a small act with a big impact on saving money and natural resources.
Check what food you have before you shop
Checking what food you already have at home before heading to the shops helps reduce food going to waste and can save you money!
Keep your recycling loose
Putting your recycling in the bin loose and not in bags means that more of it can be turned into new things such as park benches, cardboard boxes and even roads.
Stick to your shopping list
Sticking to your list every time you go shopping helps reduce food going to waste and can save you money!
Drop off used batteries for recycling
Taking your used batteries to a drop-off point for recycling helps keep harmful materials out of your bins and the environment and means we can make the most of valuable resources.
Remove food and liquids from your recycling
Emptying any food and liquids from your recycling keeps the whole load clean so more of it can be turned into new things like egg cartons, glass jars, cans and even roads.
Plan to eat leftovers once a week
Planning to eat leftovers once a week helps reduce food going to waste, which saves natural resources and the planet. Plus it can save you money!
Remember your reusable water bottle
Remembering to take your reusable water bottle when you leave home helps reduce the number of plastic bottles littering our environment or ending up in landfill.
Plan weekday dinners
Planning your weekday dinners helps reduce food going to waste, which saves natural resources and the planet. Plus it can save you money!
Keep coated cardboard items like ice cream cartons out of recycling
Drink cups, takeaway food boxes, and ice cream cartons have a plastic lining or wax coating which means they can’t be recycled. Put them in your general rubbish so they don’t mess up recycling.