We can all cut the amount of waste we produce and throw away by reducing, reusing and recycling.

repair it – don’t throw away items that could be fixed
buy good quality, durable items not disposable items
shop sustainably to reduce packaging (buy loose items like tea, fruit, cereals) - avoid items in plastic film
make a shopping list and only buy what you need
buy in season and help reduce food miles
reduce food waste – visit Love Food Hate Waste for tips
buy large economy sized products instead of singular wrapped items – avoid single-use cleaning products
buy more environmentally friendly washing up liquid, powder and soaps with less packaging (select products in refillable containers or concentrated products)
stop unwanted mail (over a third of all direct mail is thrown away unopened)
try alternative wrapping products which are environmentally friendly and will reduce packaging waste

use reusable cups and bottles
use reusable bags
use a Circular Communities Scotland company for sustainable circular goods and services
Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company offers a free collection service for quality reusable furniture
donate clothes and knick-knacks to charity shops
use real nappies not disposable ones
upcycle
home compost
swap books, or donate to North Ayrshire Cancer Care bookshops (Largs and West Kilbride)
drop off bikes at a Household Waste Recycling Centre for reuse by Killie can Cycle, or check if the seller offers a take back scheme
donate furniture to a local Furniture Re-distribution Scheme, or sell online

see what goes in each bin page for kerbside recycling - make sure the Right Stuff goes in the Right Bin
clothes, textiles, wood and scrap, furniture, electrical goods can be recycled at your nearest collection point
for hard to recycle items TerraCycle offer other solutions - for example, recycle medicine blister packs at Superdrug, Aitken Street, Largs
recycle soft plastic wrap and carriers at participating supermarkets noted below
use drop off/return schemes for coffee pods - contact your coffee pod provider

For more inspiration, visit Zero Waste Scotland and Recycle Now.

Stores in North Ayrshire offering soft plastic recycling are:

Asda, Irvine
Co-op stores (soft plastic packaging in all mainland stores, plastic bags in mainland stores over 3000sq ft)
Morrisons
Tesco, Superstores and Extras
Sainsbury's, Irvine

Check local supermarket for details.

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Reducing what you put in your bin