You can reduce the amount of waste generated by:

• Planning meals to reduce food waste and using what you already have in your pantry, fridge or freezer 
• Composting organic waste or using our food organics and garden organics service to recycle food waste
• Purchasing items in bulk, with minimal packaging that is reusable or recyclable
• Growing your own food at home
• Ditching single use plastic items such as drink bottles, cling wrap, cutlery, straws, plastic bags and nappies, and going for reusable items instead
• Purchasing goods with your own container. Visit the BYO Containers website for a list of businesses that accept clean, reusable containers for takeaway food
• Swapping packaged items with non-packaged like opting for bars of soap instead of liquid soap
• Switching balloons for bubbles
• Placing a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox
• Opting to receive electronic copies of letters, newsletters or receipts
• Using washable items like wash cloths or handkerchiefs instead of makeup, baby wipes or tissues
• Avoiding purchasing brand new items. Look to borrow, repair or buy secondhand first.
• Prior to purchasing an item ask yourself: Do you need the item or want it? Is the item good quality and will it last? Can you repair or use an existing item?
• Making your own green cleaning products or beauty products
• Utilising a toy library rather than purchasing brand new.
• Checking out Sustainability Victoria's Kids' party playbook for ideas to reduce kids party waste.

For more tips visit Zero Waste Victoria.

Find out how to downsize your household bins.

Get creative, find items that can be used again. There are many products out there you can purchase or look at what you already have. Examples include:

• Try reusable nappies - find out about different styles, how to fit, how to clean and prolong the life of your nappies by visiting our webpage.
• Trying reusable sanitary items, such as underwear, menstrual cups and pads - find out about your options by visiting our webpage. 
• Using glass jars to store food or items
• Collecting cardboard boxes, scrap paper, plastic bottles for arts and crafts for the kids
• Cardboard boxes for storage
• Using Beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap or silicone sheets instead of baking paper
• Investing in a safety razor, reusable earbuds, reusable straws, reusable cutlery, lunchboxes and containers
• Using a cooler bag and thermos
• Switching to reusable batteries
• Opting for reusable bread bags and produce bags
• Remembering reusable coffee cups 
• Looking online for examples of ‘upcycling’
• Hosting a garage sale
• Donating or selling unwanted household items in good condition to local charities or through your local Good Karma Network or Buy Nothing Group
• Shopping at op shops and vintage stores, online platforms Gumtree, Ebay, Etsy, Depop and Facebook Marketplace. such as vintage stores, markets, garage sales and online for pre-loved clothing.

Instead of rushing out to replace an item when it breaks or gets damaged, it helps to check if you can repair it first. Getting an item fixed is often far cheaper than buying new. You can search for local repair services online or try the visiting the Whitehorse Repair Café.

Repair Café

HealthAbility opened a Repair Café at Strathdon House, Forest Hill in 2023. You can take items to be repaired or be part of the team that helps to reduce waste, reuse and upcycle items as a volunteer Repair Café Repairer!

What is a Repair Café “Repairer”?

Repairers are volunteers who use their particular skills and experience to try and fix broken household items that were destined for landfill so they can continue to be used. Where possible repairers will demonstrate how the broken item can be repaired and in doing so, share some basic repair skills.

Repairer skill sets required:

• General support with admin/reception
• Bike mechanic
• Clothing and sewing
• Furniture maker/repairer
• Basic PC and laptop repairer
• Clock and watch repairer
• Mechanical repairer
• Electrical Engineer
• Musical Instrument repairer
• Book Binding
• Jewellery repairer
• Odd job repairers - be prepared for anything!

If you have any of these skills or would like to know more, please email Stewart Blair, Manager Repair Café Stewart.Blair@healthability.org.au, visit Health Abilities website or the healthAbility Repair Café - Whitehorse Facebook page.

If you cannot reduce, reuse or repair items - recycle as much as possible and ensure you and your family or co-workers are recycling the correct things.

Tips to recycle right:

• Get familiar with what can and can’t go in your household bins
• Inform others of what goes in the bin with Council's education materials and bin stickers (ensure you have a Council collection first) 
• If you are unsure of how to dispose an item, visit the Recycle Mate website or download the app for a helpful tool to learn which bin to use at home or learn if there is a better recycling option near you
• Check if your workplace has recycling and what is accepted or visit Planet Ark's website for help on how to set up or improve
• If it can’t go in your kerbside recycling bin, it may be recyclable elsewhere. See Other Disposal Options for more local information
• Support the recycling industry by buying items made from recycled materials. For businesses, visit Sustainability Victoria's website for an online directory.