Buy Recycled or Smart Shop!
Choose goods made with recycled materials. Items such as recycled tissues, refuse sacks, stationery and kitchen roll are widely available at supermarkets. They are also available from The Natural Collection 0845 3677 001. This helps encourage markets for waste materials and thus cut down on the environmental costs of extracting raw materials and manufacturing.
Look out for the Remarkable range of stationery, available in some supermarkets. These are made out of recycled paper and plastic vending cups are also used to make pencils and rulers.
Patagonia manufactures fleeces that are made from recycled plastic bottles.
Eco Sustainable Solutions produces compost from all the green waste collected in the Dorset area. This compost is on sale in many local garden centres 01202 593601
Recycled Products provides a comprehensive database of products made from recycled materials.
This might sounds obvious but only buy as much as you need. Avoid using and buying disposable items. Support your local charity shops, they are full of bargains. You can buy furniture at very reasonable prices at The British Heart Foundation Furniture and Electrical Store, 470-472 Wimborne Road, Winton 0844 499 4176.
Auctioneers and antique shops provide an excellent source of second hand goods. It is possible to get very cheap furniture at auctions.
Millions of disposable nappies are thrown out in the UK every day and, on average, people will spend £1,000 on disposable nappies for one child. Lots of parents are now opting to use modern cotton nappies to wash at home or via a laundry service. Washable nappies work out much cheaper, especially if there is more than one child in the family. There is a lining in the nappy that you just flush down the toilet and people report that, once they get in the routine, washable nappies are really not much more work. If you would like information or advice about real nappies visit Team Lollipop's website or Top Bottoms for info on local nappy laundry services.
You can also contact the UK Nappy Helpline: 01983 401959. The UK Nappy Helpline is available from 9am to 9pm. You can also email nappy@wrap.org.uk or visit Real Nappy . The Women’s Environmental Network 020 7481 9004 also provides a wealth of information on Real Nappies.
Buy energy efficient light bulbs from supermarkets, DIY stores and electrical shops. They last for around 10 years so will also save you money. The Dorset Energy Advice Centre offers advice on how to save energy, telephone 0800 975 0166.
Invest in a jug filter or a plumbed-in filter rather than buying bottled water.
If you are involved with a pre-school group, nursery, school, scout or guide group or similar, you may be interested in subscribing to The Dorset Scrapstore in Puddletown, near Dorchester. The annual membership fee is very reasonable and entitles your group to unlimited visits, to collect from their huge ranges of fabrics, wood, plastics, paper etc. 01305 849444.
Avoid using cling film and aluminium foil to store food. Put it in re usable boxes with lids or re-use margarine and other containers.
Information on ‘nearly new sales’ for second hand baby clothes and equipment can be found on the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) website. NCT is the UK's leading charity for parents. Every year they support thousands of people through the incredible life changing experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Personal computers- Reconditioned or second hand models will save you money and are available from dealers such as D & C TVs 01202 318708.
Computer cartridges - used printer and toner cartridges can be refilled or re-manufactured. Cartridge Co. can provide this service for you. Check their website http://www.cartridgeco.co.uk/acatalog/recycle.html. To make sure they can refill the cartridges that you use. Various charities will collect used cartridges via a freepost bag. These can be found online or contact us at the recycling department as we have various charity freepost bags in stock.
It is now possible to refill laser cartridges yourself. It can be as easy as taking the plug out and pouring the toner in. You may need a starter kit to begin with. Contact Refill Toner on 0121 693 2644
Office furniture, Second hand or reconditioned furniture and equipment are widely available. See Yellow Pages under Office Furniture.
Avoid batteries wherever possible. If you use a lot of batteries, consider rechargeable ones that last for several years. They are widely available through usual battery retailers. Watches don’t need batteries to work. You can buy new or second hand wind up watches, solar powered watches or Kinetic watches (that work by using the energy generated from your hand movements.) Wind-up radios and torches are also available.
Reduce the environmental impact associated with cleaning products by reducing the different types you use and substituting some less harmful cleaners e.g. white vinegar and scrunched up newspaper for cleaning windows or baking powder and water for removing mould and mildew. (More examples like these can be found if you search ‘natural cleaning products’ or ‘green cleaning’ on an internet search engine.)
Reduce your use of washing detergent:
Use a laundry ball. You can use it instead of detergent; it lasts over 1,000 washes and is now refillable, available from Eco Products. Alternatively you could try Soapods organic laundry soap nuts, soap nuts are the pods (or nut shells) from the soapnut tree - an entirely renewable source.
Most jewellers and music shops sell second hand items.
DIY- several demolition companies stock second hand building materials, architectural salvage and associated items, including fireplaces and doors. Companies are listed in the Yellow Pages, usually under Demolition or Salvage and Reclamation.
Buy second-hand car spares e.g. From Charles Trent’s in Poole call 0845 458 2039 or see Yellow Pages under Car and Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers.
Car tyres- buy long life tyres; extend wear through regularly maintenance and by checking tyre pressures regularly.
Together we can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!
| 
