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Buy Less Stuff & Reduce Food Waste

Buy Less Stuff

Living sustainably involves changing how we consume and manage the items in our lives.

  • Cutting Consumption: Use the Maidenhead Repair Cafe to fix items, borrow tools from the Library of Things (Share-a-LoT), and avoid fast fashion.
  • Wasting Less: Use the Olio app to share surplus food and donate unwanted goods to local charity shops, Freecycle, or TrashNothing.
  • Choosing Differently: Shop at plastic-free stores like Filling Good, eat less meat and dairy, and opt for upcycled or second-hand furniture.

Food Waste – What can you do?

  • One-third of all food produced globally is wasted, contributing to 8% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Planning: Check your cupboards before shopping and understand that “best before” dates are quality indicators, not safety deadlines. Use the Love Food Hate Waste website for tips and recipes.
  • Disposal: Never put food in general waste. If you can’t compost at home, use the RBWM council food waste bin to help create green energy through anaerobic digestion.

Impact

  • Financial: Reducing food waste saves the average household significant money each year.
  • Environmental: Keeping food out of landfills prevents the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

For more information, visit the ECO Action Hub in Maidenhead.

Date Published: 21/01/2025 & 15/02/2024 | Written by: Dave Scarbrough & Angela Alexander