[ The 3 R's | Top 5 Waste Tips | Water Conservation | Green Procurement | Amnesty Days ]
Use of resources results in the production of waste and, contrary to popular belief, there isn't a magical waste fairy that makes it all go away. Effective waste management is as much the responsibility of the person creating the waste as those who deal with it. The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and by following the 3 R's, everyone can help make a difference.
Reduce
One of the easiest ways of dealing with waste is not to produce it in the first place. By reducing our use of resources we are reducing the potential for waste production at source. For instance, by using double-sided photocopying wherever possible, or printing two pages to one side, we can at least halve paper consumption. Better still, by producing documents electronically we are removing the risk of using paper unnecessarily. The Government's environmental policy and annual report on environmental performance are currently produced in electronic form.
Reuse
Don't forget that we can reduce paper usage by re-using some of the paper that passes across our desk. Many people seem unaware that paper has two sides! Use "waste" paper for rough work, for drafting minutes, or to print off file copies. Keeping a scrap paper tray and putting in single sided documents for re-use is just as easy as throwing them out. If a television or fridge for example breaks down, it was probably perfectly good before, so if you can, try to repair an item before buying new. You might not save money but you will avoid wasting valuable resources.
Recycle
For the occasion when something reaches the end of its useful life, the Scottish Government has a number of contracts in place to recycle some of its waste types. Make the best use of the recycling facilities where available so that raw materials and energy are not wastefully used in producing new items. The Government currently sends for reycling:
- glass;
- wood;
- fluorescent tubes and lamps;
- paper;
- aluminium cans and other metal;
- plastics;
- toner cartridges;
- batteries;
- IT and electronic equipment;
- mobile phones.
back to: Resource Use