This is an area where everyone
in Uganda and world over can make a contribution to living lightly on the
planet. This means that lets end up in already overflowing landfills; it
reduces the need for new raw materials, and so helps preserve the environment
from destructive processes such as mining, power generation and water exploitation.
Less waste means less pollution, and reducing waste can save money! Waste
can be reduced by reusing, reducing, and recycling.
RE-USE
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Where possible, re-use a product
several times. If you can't use it again, find someone who can.
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Glass and plastic bottles with
deposits can be returned to shops for re-use. Likewise, milk bottles are
re-used by distributors.
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Wash and dry plastic bags
for re-use.
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Staple together office paper
that has only been written on one side, for scrap paper.
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Nursery schools make good use
of the inside core of toilet rolls and paper towels, eg boxes, empty boxes
and jam jars.
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Charities welcome unwanted clothes,
furniture, toys, books and magazines.
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Repair things rather than throw
them away.
REDUCE
This is the most important
step - if we do it well there will be less to re-use and recycle.
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Shop carefully: Buy in
bulk to reduce the amount of packaging required; choose returnable or reusable
containers.
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Avoid over-packaged products
and unnecessarily packaged food, e.g. cling-wrapped vegetables on polystyrene
trays.
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Choose durable articles that
will last a long time.
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Buy products with a recycled
content.
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Use rechargeable batteries where
possible, cloth dishtowels and napkins instead of paper ones, and refillable
ink pens. Avoid disposable plates, cups and cutlery.
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Store food in the fridge in
re-useable, airtight containers, rather than plastic cling film, tinfoil
or plastic bags.
Take
your own basket, or re-useable plastic bags, to the market to avoid using
new plastic shopping bags (Buvera) each time. Use the supermarket's trolley
or basket when selecting items, and use your own bag or basket to carry
it home. Ask your supermarket to take back used shopping bags.
Shoping
in a Kampala Market.
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In the office and at school,
photocopy on both sides of the paper.
RECYCLE
If a product cannot be re-used,
then recycle it. The first step is to separate your waste at home into
organic waste, plastic, glass, tin cans and paper - all of which can be
recycled into suitable forms for re-use.
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A compost heap is a must! Kitchen
and garden waste can be added to the compost heap, or used to feed pets
or garden birds.
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Used motor oil can be handed
in for recycling at your local garage.
