Waste
Read about how to reduce your waste, for your wallet and the planet.
Addressing waste management can significantly impact Climate Change. Waste reduction and correct recycling not only reduces environmental pollution but also contribute to mitigating Climate Change. Without proper recycling efforts, we run the risk of overloading our landfills with waste while simultaneously releasing pollutants (methane) into the environment. This can damage natural habitats and contribute to global warming.
The Waste Minimisation team at Huntingdonshire District Council are here to help you reduce the amount of waste you produce, as well as offer advice and tips on working your way up the waste hierarchy with the products and materials that you use.
Contact wastemin@huntingdonshire.gov.uk to get involved!
Waste Initiatives:
The following link includes a range of different initiatives: Community Fridges, Purchase/sale of second-hand goods, Repair Cafes, Swish, reusable personal care, reusable party kits & toy libraries! Zero Waste Initiatives - Huntingdonshire.gov.uk
- Buy less mindset - Could you borrow rather than buy? For example, you can borrow a tool from a neighbour or dedicated websites. Use books from a library, rent a dress, toys, board games, party kits, camping equipment, glassware and crockery… You can help bring a 'Library of things' to your local area here. Or visit your local library! Cambridgeshire Libraries – libraries have been lending and sharing resources from the word go! Buy less, borrow more. By borrowing books you are sharing with your community (and it saves you money). As well as traditional books and audiobooks on CD, you can borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers, all free. Libraries also offer free WiFi and free use of public computers. You can use a library printer for a small charge. Libraries also loan tablets and laptops – ask at the information desk.
- Cloth Nappy Initiative (includes 10-25% discounts on reusable nappies and personal care products) - Nappy Initiative - Huntingdonshire.gov.uk
- Swap the way you shop - When possible, consider buying second-hand (electrical devices, phones, clothe, furniture, games…). When possible, aim to use items that are built to last. You can also reduce single-use plastic by going to one of the zero waste shops in Huntingdonshire. Please find a list of companies which offers discounted reusable items via our website. We regularly share the location of the zero waste shops. We also provide our residents with tips on our Facebook and Instagram page.
- Use it again and again and again - Items can be fixed! A puncture, hole, or loose screw can be easily repaired rather than thrown away. Learn how to repair it, or get a volunteer in Cambridgeshire to do it for you at one of Cambridge Carbon’s Footprint’s repair café! HDC ran a repair café in St Neots and would be happy to partner with other parishes interested.
- Rehome it - This can be a market place, Carboot, Freegle, a charity shop, or even a friend or family member. HDC have partnered with Freegle!
Don't throw it away, give it away! (ilovefreegle.org)
- Recycling & Refill shops - Find your nearest recycling centres (includes refill shops, clothing banks, batteries, wires, electricals, blister packs, soft plastics and others) - Recycling Centres - Huntingdonshire.gov.uk
Did you know that recycling one metal can saves enough energy to power a computer for one hour or power a television for 3 hours? We are continuously working with residents and property managers who don’t recycling correctly to ensure that they understand how to recycle. We are also looking at new ways to recycle items which we not previously recyclable. If you are interested in composting, you can benefit from a £15 discount for a home composter here.
- Food for Nought - A dedicated non-profit organisation committed to alleviating food insecurity in our most vulnerable communities throughout Huntingdonshire and Peterborough, whilst simultaneously working to reduce food waste and harmful CO2 emissions. Their amazing work includes collecting surplus and unwanted food from local shops, farms and supermarkets, redistributing to a network of communities!
Follow their story on Facebook
- Watch what you wash away | Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants - There are environmental impacts of blocked drains and the chemicals we 'wash away'. Blocked drains have the negative potential of causing damage to wildlife habitats and ecosystems through sewage back ups, contaminating water systems and flooding.
Try opt for natural ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar to unblock a drain.
Avoid pouring oil or grease down.
Try to use eco-friendly laundry alternatives.
Don't flush anything down the toilet apart from bodily waste and tissue paper.
Follow Huntingdonshire Recycles on Facebook! for daily tips and tricks!
For those passionate individuals, the Waste Minimisation team have started a voluntary Hunts Waste Busters group, where ideas and projects can be shared and developed to help spread the waste minimisation word. Hunts Waste Busters started in January 2021, the group has already helped to develop social media plans and increased followers on the various social media platforms, as well as growing our coverage through local publications and with local community groups. The group join together for a bi-monthly meeting on what HDC are doing and what you would like to see in Huntingdonshire!
If you would like to get involved, please email WasteMinimisation@Huntingdonshire.gov.uk.