Top tips to go green

If you're looking for inspiration on how to be more eco-friendly, check out our top tips:

Food

1. #WorthSaving: The #WorthSaving campaign raises awareness of how reducing edible food waste can save households up to £720 per year. Visit the WorthSaving website for tips on meal planning, proper food storage, and using leftovers.
2. Surplus food: If you have extra food, donate it through OLIO, Community Fridges, or local food banks. 
3. Eat less meat: Reducing meat consumption lowers your carbon footprint, since animal farming produces more greenhouse gases than all transportation combined. Check out Veganuary, Meat Free Mondays, Reducetarian, Vegan Society for more information and advice.
4. Grow your own food: If you are able to, growing your own food can be a rewarding hobby, with proven mental health benefits. You also get to eat free, organic food, it reduces packaging and puts compost to good use.
5. Buy organic: Organic farming supports biodiversity and ecosystems and provides healthier food for your family.
6. Choose sustainable fish: If you choose to eat fish, ensure that the species are sustainably sourced. Use the Marine Conservation Society's Good Fish Guide to help you choose.
7. Buy local and eat seasonal: Buying seasonal food locally lowers your food miles, reduces packaging, and also helps support local businesses.
8. Start composting: Turn food and garden waste into fertiliser for your garden with a compost bin. Visit our home composting page for more details.  

Reduce, reuse, recycle

1. Reduce: Buy products with minimal, recyclable packaging. Opt for loose fruit and veg and refillable products, such as fabric softeners.
2. Reuse: Replace single-use items with reusable alternatives. Find out more on our Reusables page.
3. Borrow or buy used: Save resources by borrowing, buying used, or shopping at charity shops, car boot sales, libraries and online marketplaces.
4. Give items a new life: Donate or sell items you no longer need through charity shops, or websites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.
5. Repair: Before buying new, try fixing broken items. This will save you money and resources. Check out the likes of YouTube and WikiHow for tutorials. There's also a Repair Cafe on the first Saturday of every month at the Open Door Community Hub, Berkhamsted. Just drop in with anything that needs fixing and the team of experts will be happy to help.
6. Recycle right: Ensure you know what to put in each bin so that you recycle as much you can, and don't  put in the wrong materials.
7. Add recycling bins: Place extra recycling bins in rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms, where many recyclable items often get thrown away. 
8. Buy recycled: Support recycling by choosing products made from recycled materials.
9. Read news online: Reduce paper waste by switching from print newspapers and magazines to online news.
10. Opt out of junk mail: Unsubscribe from unwanted post and use the free Mailing Preference Service to prevent junk mail reaching your door. 
11. Upcycle: Give old items a new lease of life by upcycling. Find creative ideas on websites such as Pinterest or Upcycle That. 

Caring for your local environment

1. Litter picking: Help clean up your area by doing a litter pick - remember to separate reyclable items into a different bag. You can organise your own litter pick or join the annual Great British Spring Clean. If you  regularly litter pick you can sign up to be a Street Champion and get your own kit. 
2. Support wildlife: Give nature a home in your garden to help protect endangered species and support local ecosystems.