Reusing your waste is the second step to reducing the amount of waste you send to landfill.

• Reuse - using products again in their current form for the same purpose or another use e.g. “Bags for Life” from the supermarket

You can help by:   

• Consider trying washable nappies, you can save the environment whilst saving money.
  
  
• Try setting up your computer printer to print on both sides of the paper.
  
  
• Use scrap paper for shopping lists and notes.
  
  
• Try and reuse as many plastic containers as possible. Use plastic
  pots for seedlings or as paint pots for children. Ice cream tubs can be
  used to store children’s toys, leftovers in the fridge, packed lunches, or
  other items in the kitchen and garage.
  
  
• Donate clothing, books, shoes and home textiles to charity shops and consider buying second hand yourself. 
  
  
• Join a toy library to borrow toys and give old ones to other families, see the Play Matters website
  

• Pass outgrown children’s clothes to a friend.  Children’s clothes are often barely used and still in good condition. 
  

• Donate your unwanted clothes to your local charity. Oxfam will give you a £5 voucher if you take any Marks & Spencer item to them with the labels still on, you can then use it to purchase a new item from M & S if you spend over £35.
  
  

• Larger charities often take wooden furniture to sell on in its shops.
  
  
• Sell things you no longer need at an online auction site or at a car boot sale.
  
  
• If you like books why not join the library; it’s free and you have a huge choice to pick from.
  
  
• Mend or restore old furniture or appliances instead of buying new ones.
  
  
• Reuse plastic carrier bags for lining rubbish bins, or other jobs around
  the house.
  
  

• Try reclamation yards, auctions and second hand shops when doing DIY.
  
  

• One man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure.  Contact your local Furniture Re-use Network - they distribute unwanted furniture and household goods to those in need. Or advertise your old furniture using websites like www.vskips.co.uk or www.freecycle.co.uk.