 Give your views
We would like to thank residents who have taken time to give us their views on this newsletter.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, can you spare a couple of minutes to tell us what you like about the newsletter and what you would like to see changed?
Your views will help us make this newsletter as useful to you as possible.
 Love your garden waste bin
We have been receiving requests to replace damaged garden waste bins, which are still usable with minor wear and tear only.
Residents can request a new garden waste bin when their existing bin is beyond repair, missing a wheel or no longer fit for purpose.
If your bin has a small crack but is still functional, try mending it using duct tape. This will help maximize the life of the bin.
More importantly, you will help reduce the environmental impact of disposing of your existing bin and manufacturing a new one.
 Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July® is a global movement to encourage people to reduce plastic waste by refusing single-use plastics and finding alternatives that can become new habits forever.
Plastic audit
First, start by counting how much plastic you use each week. One of the easiest ways is to count the number of plastic items or packaging you have after your weekly food shop and note one item for each piece of plastic.
After counting how much plastic you use, we need to find a way to reduce it. There are plenty of ways to do this:
- You may decide that you don’t need to buy a particular item any more
- You may find it packaged without plastic
- You can swap it for a plastic-free alternative
No plastic packaging
Many of the products we regularly rely on have plastic packaging.
Toiletries and cleaning products are two areas that can easily be swapped out for other more environmentally options.
There are many cleaning products in the market that do not have plastic packaging, such as sponge scourers, dishwasher tablets, laundry powder and more.
Some manufacturers offer dissolvable cleaning solutions, which help reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles being produced and incinerated or sent to landfill. All consumers need to do is to dissolve the product in a bottle that can be used again and again, or even for life.
Plastics swaps
Did you know over 520 million shampoo bottles and 264 million toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the UK?
Toiletries are also a great area to make some plastic swaps. Besides bar form soaps, shampoos and conditioners, there are also plastic-free deodorants, interdental brushes, sanitary products, make-up wipes and even toothbrushes.
Shampoo bars are an increasingly popular plastic-free alternative and are now sold in lots of high street stores. They function the same way as the liquid options, and most of them are made of natural ingredients. So, they are kind to both your hair and the environment.
 Reduce single-use plastic waste
Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once or for a short period of time before they are thrown away or recycled.
Bleach bottles, plastic carrier bags, shampoo bottles, drink bottles and the like are all single-use plastic products. They can be re-used until they break after thorough cleaning.
Another way to reduce single-use plastic waste is to refill your bottles. Many shops have a refill station where you can refill some of their products, like haircare, shower gel or hand wash. In that case, you never need to throw away the bottles.
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