Swap Shops

Waste reduction

Since the best way to deal with waste is to prevent it, here are some things that you can do yourself to minimise its production.

Reducing Packaging Waste

• Buy loose items including fruit & vegetables, nails & screws, rather than plastic wrapped or bubble packs.

• Use a cloth shopping bag  a 'Bag for Life', or a shopping trolley.

• Refill your eco-friendly domestic cleaning liquid containers. This can be done at Just Trading of Wallingford in the High Street.

• Refuse a bag at the cash desk. Cashiers often put items, which may already be wrapped, in a bag.

Reducing Food Waste

Buy just what you need rather than packs of a fixed size. The weekly Friday market and the Saturday local producers' market stalls sell by weight.  At Just Trading you can purchase loose dry goods in as large or as small a quantity as required. Some stalls at the Farmers’ Market sell loose goods.

Reducing General Waste

• USE LESS - e.g. the bubbles in the washing-up water or when you use shampoo are a waste product!

• THINK first - then buy.

• Make the DURABILITY of an item more important than its price - it is usually cheaper overall.

• Use rechargeable batteries where possible.

• When a need arises try Freecycle or the charity shops FIRST, only buying new if really necessary.

• Borrow from a friend or hire - use the LETS scheme. LETS contact Ann Truesdale 01491 835173 or visit the Wallingford LETS site.