Global Recycling Day Energy Saving Switch

5 ways to reduce your waste

host-green-globeToday, Monday 18th March, is Global Recycling Day. Established in 2018, Global Recycling Day helps recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.

Recycling saves more CO2 emissions each year than those generated by the entire aviation industry, while simultaneously protecting the earth’s valuable natural resources.

So how can you get involved and help do your bit for the environment? Well, it’s actually quite simple. There are lots of small changes you can make to your everyday life that will help to reduce your waste, to assure the future of our planet. Below we’ve pulled together 5 top ways to start recycling more and wasting less…

1. Use reusable cups and bottles

students-drinking-from-cups-

Sitting in lectures all day can be thirsty work, so it’s always a good idea to have a drink with you. Take a reusable water bottle with you and when you’re done, simply fill it up (for free) and use it again and again. Not only will you be helping to reduce the amount of plastic use and waste, but you’ll also save yourself a few pounds from not having to buy a new bottle of water every time you need a drink.

The same goes for all you hot drink lovers. Invest in a reusable cup and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee as you head out the door for the day, instead of stopping at the local coffee shop every morning and having to buy one and then throwing away the empty cup after you’ve finished.

2. Bring your own bags

Plastic-pollution-in-ocean

Approximately 40% of all plastic waste comes from single-use plastic such as carrier bags. So, whether you’re stocking up on your favourite delights from the supermarket or treating yourself to the latest fashion trend on the high street, be ready to say no to a plastic bag by having your own reusable bag with you ready to carry the goods home. Having your own bag will also save you 5p every time.

3. Save the leftovers

Group-of-friends-eating-pizza-takeaway

Can’t manage the last of the takeaway? Cooked too much dinner? Providing it’s safe to keep, don’t throw it in the bin, save it and eat it for your lunch or dinner the following day. You can even turn it into a new dishy by adding a few new ingredients to it. Only a small portion left? If it’s something like leftover curry, stew or chilli, adding a tin of tomatoes or beans can help to bulk it out and make your leftovers go further.

4. Recycle old tech products

Students-walk-and-talk-using-mobile

In today’s digital world, technology is constantly changing, which means computers, mobile phones, televisions, printers and the like are becoming obsolete and filling up landfill sites quicker than ever before. But before you ditch your old tech in the trash, think about whether it might be useful for someone else. You could try selling it to someone looking for second hand items or spare parts on sites such as eBay or Gumtree; not only will it go to a good home to be used again, but you’ll also make some money back. Alternatively, you could try an online mobile recycling company who will pay you for sending them your old phone or contacting your local electronics store to see if they provide recycling options.

5. Go paperless

-student-using-tablet-computer--

Now a days, so much is done online, and you don’t always need physical printed information in your hand. So, where you can, try to limit your use of paper. Whether it’s receiving your bank statements via your online banking app instead of in the post, using e-tickets at the train station instead of printed tickets, or reading the latest headlines via a news app instead of buying a newspaper, there are lots of ways you can go paperless.

And if you are printing from your computer, but don’t need it long-term, you can keep it and use it as scrap paper, or if not, be sure to properly discard of it so it is recycled!

So, there you have just a few ideas you can implement into your daily life and not just for Global Recycling Day. And if you’re living with us at Host, don’t forget you can recycle your waste using the appropriate recycling facilities on-site. Don’t forget, you can also help reduce your energy waste by making small changes to your day and support one of our three chosen charities in the process as part of the #HostEnvironmentalPledge.

#HostEnvironmentalPledge.
Getting serious about the environment we live in.

To become more ‘environmentally friendly’, Host is launching the #HostEnvironmentalPledge campaign to encourage responsible behaviour and drive sustainability across our sites throughout the UK and Ireland.

It’s a simple campaign! For every percent we reduce our overall utilities (electric, water and gas) consumption by we donate to one of our nominated charities.

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