GOING GREEN- ADOPTING A MORE Where to start While this is an old saying, the meaning certainly still rings true in today’s environmentally-conscious world. Simply by being aware of what you purchase, and consequently what you waste, you can make a significant contribution to the planet’s wellbeing: • Purchase everyday items in bulk to help cut down on packaging and waste, switching from disposable items to reusable ones; razors for example. • Consider cancelling your newspaper subscriptions and catch up with the news online. As well as reducing your paper waste, you’ll save yourself a few pounds in the process. Reuse and recycle • Reuse plastic shopping bags, cardboard boxes, sandwich bags, freezer bags and elastic bands, etc. Simply ask yourself before throwing items away, ‘Can I reuse this?’ • Consider donating unwanted and good quality clothes, shoes and household items to charity shops. There are also a growing number of recycling networks set up to reduce waste items going to landfill – Freecycle, Freegle, Gumtree, etc. These networks provide a way of connecting people who wish to give away items they no longer have use for, with people who need that exact item; from chairs and tables to glassware, bikes and children’s toys. • Donate or recycle your electrical items responsibly. Electronic waste contains mercury and other toxins and is becoming a growing environmental problem. Conserve energy Becoming more energy efficient in the home is perhaps the easiest way of doing your bit for the environment; helping to reduce energy consumption and reducing your carbon dioxide • Switch off lights when you leave a room. By making small changes, you can really help to make a big difference and contribute to the preservation of the Earth’s precious resources. Call NFU Mutual in Kettering on 01536 384013
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