At the shops

Top tips at the shops to help you throw away less

• Make a shopping list before you go food shopping – a staggering third of all food bought ends up in the bin! Visit the Love Food Hate Waste website to find out more.

• Say no to plastic bags – use bags for life or reusable bags instead.

• Avoid convenience foods with layers of packaging.

• Buy loose fruit and vegetables – then you can chose the best ones!

• Purchase refillable and concentrated products.

• Chose good quality products that last longer – it may cost you less in the long term.

• Buy reusable alternatives to throwaway items such as razors, plastic cutlery and cameras.

• Buy rechargeable batteries instead of single-use batteries.

• Avoid bottled water - drink tap water instead. With over 700 Refill Stations in London, Refill is a free tap water initiative designed to reduce plastic pollution by refilling a water bottle.

• Support reuse by buying second-hand items, such as clothing or furniture from charities.

• Use reuse swapping sites eg Freecycle or Freegle.

• Choose packaging that can be recycled and check the recycling labels.

For further information on how you can minimise your waste by reducing and reusing visit the North London Waste Authority website.

What are retailers doing to reduce waste?

Retailers and the government  are working together to reduce the amount of material used in packaging. Visit the WRAP website for more information.