Recycle and reduce waste

Every day, each of us has countless opportunities to reduce the waste we generate

We can do this by:

buying less or buying smarter
reusing, repairing or upcycling goods clothes, furniture, bikes, appliances and so on (check out the Rediscovery Centre for ideas)
recycling or composting material we no longer need (check out MyWaste.ie to find out where you can recycle 100s of things, from animal beds to wool)

When you shop

Reduce how much stuff you buy.
- Most emissions associated with ‘stuff’ comes from them being made and transported to you. Reduce your emissions by reducing your shopping!
Bring your own bag
- Don’t use single-use bags and remember to bring your reusable bags, as they have to be used many times to be truly sustainable.
Be aware of packaging.
- Choose items with little or no packaging.
- If you can, leave unnecessary packaging in the shop to encourage them to reduce it.
Limit the amount of clothes you buy
- Buy durable clothes that will last.
- Challenge yourself to only buy three items of clothing in a year.
- Learn to sew and mend your clothes. DCU Sustainable Living Society runs a great ‘Stitch and Bitch’!

What you eat and drink

Reduce food waste by planning your meals and only buying what you need. Half of all food produced is wasted!
Eat less meat. Try meat-free Mondays to get started!
Carry a refillable bottle instead of buying plastic bottles. Our Facebook page has a map of water refill points in DCU.
Use a reusable mug when you can and remember most paper coffee cups are not recyclable!

When you print and use paper