Reducing waste
Reducing waste is one of the most effective ways to protect our environment, conserve resources, and reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. Small changes at home, school, work, and in the community can make a significant difference.
The Far North District Council supports waste minimisation initiatives that encourage people to reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and recover resources wherever possible. Council also partners with EcoSolutions to deliver waste minimisation education and behaviour change programmes across Northland. To find out more, go to the EcoSolutions website.
Five Simple Ways to Reduce Waste
Refuse: Avoid items you do not need, particularly single-use products and excessive packaging.
Reduce: Buy only what you need and choose products that generate less waste.
Reuse: Reuse containers, bags, clothing, furniture and household items whenever possible.
Repair: Repair broken items instead of replacing them. Repairing extends the life of projects and reduces waste.
Recycle: Recycle accepted materials correctly and use local recycling services where possible available.
Food Waste
Food waste makes up a significant portion of household rubbish.
You can reduce food waste by:
- Planning meals before shopping
- Storing food correctly
- Using leftovers creatively
- Composting food scraps at home
Composting
Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce household rubbish while creating a valuable resource for your garden.
Composting can help:
- Reduce waste sent to landfill
- Improve soil quality
- Retain moisture in gardens
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
For composting workshops and support, visit the EcoSolutions website.
Reuse Before You Dispose
Before throwing something away, consider whether it could:
- Be donated
- Be repaired
- Be sold
- Be repurposed
- Be shared with someone else
Extending the life of products helps reduce waste and supports a circular economy.
Businesses and Organisations
Businesses play an important role in reducing waste. Simple actions such as reducing packaging, recycling correctly, composting food waste, and purchasing reusable products can significantly reduce waste sent to landfill.
