News / Bristol Waste
Bristol households reduce waste by 77 per cent
Households across the city who took part in the Bristol #WasteNothingChallenge produced 77 per cent less waste than the average household, averaging 2.1kg of general waste a week.
The challenge, run by Bristol Waste Company, is an attempt for 100 households to get to zero waste in just 12 months.
Over the challenge, households involved produced 34 per cent less plastic waste and recycled 75 per cent of all waste.
If every household reduced their general waste by just 10 per cent, that could save; over 9,500 tonnes going to waste, enough carbon to power over 4,000 homes for a year and the city hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“Households from across Bristol have shown what a phenomenal difference a few simple changes can make – and that they’re even achievable in a pandemic. Simply by planning your shop or remembering to take reusable items with you when you leave the house, you can massively reduce the waste you generate,” said Gwen Frost, head of innovation & sustainability at Bristol Waste.
“These households managed to produce a staggering 77% less waste than the average Bristol household with a few simple steps. If every we all just made a 10% reduction it could prevent thousands of tonnes of waste, save enough carbon to power 3,000 homes for a year and save the city hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
To try and make your household waste-free, try these tips from Bristol Waste for a plastic-free July:
- Instead of buying a new bottle of washing up liquid, shampoo, or hand-wash each time, try filling an old bottle at a refill shop.
- Look for recyclable alternatives to plastic packaging like cardboard, metal, or glass.
- Take bags and containers with you to the shops to take advantage of things you can find loose like fruit and veg or bread.
- Try growing some of your own food like herbs and salad which are difficult to find without plastic packaging.
- Change from single-use, disposable items to reusable, washable things like nappies, wet wipes, make-up remover pads, and sanitary products.
- Replace plastic bottles in the bathroom with solid bar versions of things like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and shaving foam.
Main photo: Bristol Waste
Read more: Bristol Waste’s first reuse shop opens for business
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