Less waste saves you money and helps the environment by reducing the amount of rubbish we send for incineration (to generate electricity).
Reduce
The best thing we can do with waste is not to produce it in the first place!
As consumers we can use our purchasing power and choose products which are produced sustainably, use little or no packaging and are durable. Buying only what we really need also helps to reverse the trend of today’s throw-away society.
15 top tips to help you reduce your single-use plastic waste
Real nappies
Find out how to claim a £45 voucher by coming to one of our Nappy Natter sessions.
Garden waste and home composting
Up to 30 per cent of our household waste could be composted. Find out how to claim a subsidised compost bin.
Garden waste and home composting
Reuse
Reuse means passing something you no longer want on to others, or giving an item a new lease of life as something completely different. Either way, reusing your waste saves you money and helps the environment, by reducing the amount of rubbish you send to landfill.
Donate unwanted furniture and household items
Traid - textiles and small electricals home collection service
The clothes charity TRAID offer free home collections for clothes and small electrical items which are then sent direct to the charity. Collections are made at a time convenient to you so donations are not left outside vulnerable to theft and bad weather. Donations should be in good condition to be resold in their charity shops.
Book a free home collection with TRAID.
British Heart Foundation - free home collections
Book a free furniture and electrical goods collection to donate your unwanted furniture, small electrical items and bric-a-brac with the British Heart Foundation.
Rework
You can drop off your items at the Smugglers Way Reuse and Recycling Centre , where Rework is based.
Freegle
Freegle is a great alternative to pass on your unwanted items to someone else. Hammersmith and Fulham Freegle was founded in 2006 and has many thousands of members involved in finding new owners for unwanted items. Items can be listed for others to collect, you can browse items that are being given away and you can ask the community if anyone has something that you are looking for.
Mobile phones and tablets
If you have an old device that still works you could donate it or sell it but if it doesn’t work then recycle it. Use the link to find locations where you can recycle or donate your old devices.
Alternatively Freedom Mobiles is a not-for-profit organisation that shows you all of the outlets that will recycle your old smartphones and tablets. It compares all the organisations and prices they will offer you for your device.
Streetbank
Find out about Streetbank, a local enterprise that brings neighbours together by sharing items, ideas and initiatives.
Charity shops
These are a great place for donating unwanted clothes. They raise lots of money for valuable causes and provide an inexpensive way to buy clothes too. To find your nearest charity shop using an online postcode locator visit the Association of Charity Shops website.
Other ways to reuse unwanted items
Swishing - clothes swapping party
We all love fabulous new clothes but not the unfortunate side effects. Swishing or clothes swapping is a fantastic way for you to refresh your wardrobe. It’s free and it’s great for the environment. Visit the Swishing website to view a calendar of events or to find information about organising your own party.
Swap events
Swap events – swap your unwanted baby items, clothes, shoes, books, toys, bags, CDs and DVDs.
Online exchange
Online exchange - find out what can be reused at the reuse and recycling centres.
A to Z of materials you can recycle
Search the Recycle Recycle Western Riverside website A to Z for reuse and reduction tips by material.
Contact us
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
020 8753 1100
Cleaner.Greener@lbhf.gov.uk