Information for Yarra residents on reducing waste with tips on buying clothing and how plastic and food products can be reused, recycled or re-purposed.
The choices we make can make a big difference.
We are consuming and producing waste at a rate that is not sustainable for our environment.
Buying cheap, disposable, single-use products is a big part of the problem - they take time and use valuable resources to produce, only to end up in landfill.
By choosing clothing, plastic and food products that can be reused, recycled or re-purposed we can reduce our carbon footprint and help the environment.
What you can do to reduce waste
- Refuse single-use plastics such as plastic bags, coffee cups, straws, water bottles and takeaway containers. Use your reusable coffee cup and takeaway containers instead.
- Choose products that aren't disposable and can be reused in the future.
- Opt for products with low or no packaging.
- Borrow, rent, loan or share resources. If you can avoid buying new clothes, toys and electronics, it can make a big difference.
- Shop second hand to give pre-loved items a new life and support the local economy. Try online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Ebay.
- Plan your meals and create shopping lists to reduce what you throw away. While composting is great for unavoidable scraps, minimising food waste in the first place is crucial.
- Support local businesses that say YES to zero waste. There are many products, services and businesses in Yarra that are committed to zero waste. Check the Yarra Zero Waste Map to find them.
- Join our 12-week online food waste challenge. You will receive fortnightly emails with tips for reducing food waste.
How to reduce, reuse and recycle
Plastics, clothing and food waste are three common waste streams contributing to landfill. We can all take simple actions to help reduce waste.
Click on each of the waste streams below for tips and tricks.