You can reduce your environmental impact from consumption and waste by buying less, repairing broken products, sharing and reusing what you already have. It also important to avoid single use items where possible.
The facts
16% of a Camden resident’s environmental impact comes from buying new items for the home and every year Londoners throw away 2 million tonnes of waste – enough to fill the Thames. Instead of buying items you’ll only use once, why not borrow from the Library of Things.
Library of Things Kentish Town - Library of Things Kilburn
Government figures estimate that five million tonnes of plastic is used in the UK every year, nearly half of which is packaging. You can reduce the amount of packaging you use by bringing a reusable container to Refill Station Camden to fill up on household cleaning and body care products.
More actions, initiatives and information
Repair your belongings
Reduce your waste and reuse and repair what you have, check out advice from the North London Waste Authority and London Recycles: Reduce waste, reuse and repair in North London - Londoner's guide to repair - NLWA's guide to second hand items.
Share lend and borrow
Share, lend and borrow rather than buy items that you only need occasionally: Streetbank - Nextdoor - Freecycle.
Donate
Some charities will collect good quality reuseable furniture and items for free: British Heart Foundation - Sue Ryder
Repair and rethink electronics
Attend a local community repair event and learn how to repair broken electronics, and rethink how we consume them in the first place: Fixing Factory Camden - The Restart Project
Repair and recycle electrical items
Find a London business to repair your broken devices and how to how to recycle electrical items in Camden: NLWA’s Electrical Repair Map - Free Large electrical item collection - Recycle small electrical and electronic items - New ways to reuse and recycle electricals at Regis road
Refill
Find more places to Refill - shop, eat and drink with less waste. Refill London - Chalton Street Circular Economy Market
Sell or recycle textiles
Good quality clothing or shoes could be sold online, given away or donated to charity. You can also recycle clothes, shoes and textiles in Camden. NLWA's Guide to clothes - Recycle clothes, shoes and textiles
Reuseable nappies
If you’re a parent you can get a free £70 voucher for real nappies: Real Nappies for London voucher
Camden Recycling Rewards
Earn rewards for you and your community by reducing, reusing and recycling more. Camden Recycling Rewards
Reuse and recycling centres
If an item has come to the end of its life, it can be recycled at your nearest reuse and recycling centre. Reuse and recycling centres - What else can I recycle
Register, Request, Reuse - Are you or your local group interested in reusing materials or items that may otherwise go to waste?
Find out more and request materials from the NLWA
Check your private waste collectors
There are other ways to reuse and recycle. Private waste collectors can be used, but you have a legal responsibility to check beforehand that they are a licensed waste carrier and will make sure that your waste is dealt with safely and legally. LoveJunk online marketplace - TippTapp
Composting
For Composting information visit our garden waste page
Paint reuse
You can donate or collect good quality reusable paints at Regis Road Reuse and Recycling Centre. Leave paint in the designated area when you visit or speak to a member of staff for assistance. Find out more about the paint reuse scheme including what paints you can donate and collect.