Resources

The main types of waste prevention activity covered by the Household Waste Prevention Hub are outlined below.

A WRAP study into the composition and re-use potential of household bulky textiles found that of all bulky waste in the UK around 19% (310,000 tonnes) consists of textiles.

The Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) brings together clothing retailers, brands, suppliers, local authority representatives, recyclers, charities, trade bodies and the public sector to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing.

Some or all advertising mail items can be judged as unwanted; this can include addressed and unaddressed items, flyers and free newspapers.

The repair and re-use of electrical and electronic products keeps valuable materials out of the waste stream for longer. Re-use organisations also have a positive social impact in the communities in which they operate.

Garden waste - otherwise known as green waste - is decomposing organic matter that can be used as a fertiliser. Although composting is not technically waste prevention, it is included here because it removes material from the municipal waste stream.

Whilst a good number of local authorities do collect household food and garden waste for large-scale composting and digestion operations, composting at home has the added benefit of avoiding transport impacts and producing a soil improver output which can be used in resident’s gardens.

The production, use and disposal of clothes has a significant environmental impact. After transport, utilities, construction, and food, the clothing industry represents the fifth-biggest environmental footprint of any UK business sector. 

This section describes the opportunities for re-use of electrical and electronic products that would otherwise be discarded.

The value of unused clothing in wardrobes has been estimated at around £30 billion. It is also estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes into landfill each year.

These estimates suggest there is an opportunity for local authorities to divert clothing waste away from disposal by promoting better care for clothing and alternative management options. Local authorities also have a role to play in providing advice on extending the life of clothes through enhanced care, re-use and recycling.

WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) campaign provides useful reference and communications material that local authorities can draw on to promote food reduction in their area.

LFHW has its own dedicated consumer facing website containing a wealth of detailed ideas to help individuals, communities and organisations reduce food waste as well as the LFHW partner website containing free materials, templates, and resources for local authorities.

The Waste Prevention Hub provides an overview of a selection of that guidance. For the full details please visit the LFHW page or the dedicated the LFHW consumer website.

The WRAP website and its consumer-facing Love Food Hate Waste campaign website are excellent sources of food waste data and summary statistics.

This section signposts key reports and web pages that will be helpful to those looking for data to help with preparing waste prevention communication materials, with the implementation of new prevention activities and with planning further research.