Refusing products or packaging at the source puts pressure on manufactures to produce more sustainable alternatives.

• Refuse packaging where possible choosing loose items.

• Refuse single use produce bags and shopping bags.​

• Refuse over packaged items with multiple layers of packaging.

• Refuse fast fashion and move towards sustainable fashion.

Try these five simple single-use plastic swaps as a start.
The Plastic Free Foundation provides resources and ideas to help participants refuse and reduce single-use plastic waste every day at home, work, school and in the community. 

Refuse items like junk mail by:

• Applying 'No junk mail stickers'.

• Registering on Association for Data-driven Marketing & Advertising's (ADMA) 'Do Not Mail' register.

• Redirecting mail you receive back to the organisation or contacting the organisation directly to stop or contacting the Distribution Standards Board.

Reducing waste by shopping mindfully saves money and minimises resource use in recycling or disposal into landfill.
 

Consider:

• Planning purchases to avoid unnecessary spending. ​Try a “No Buy Challenge" to commit to avoiding non-essential items for a set-period to build mindful habits.

• Use a cooling-off period, leave items in your online cart for a day or two before buying to give yourself time to reconsider and avoid impulse purchases.

• Choose reusable over disposable and opt for quality, sustainable products with a longer life cycle.

• Choose items with minimal, recyclable or compostable packaging. 

• Plan meals and use a shopping list to prevent food waste. See EPA's Love Food Hate Waste or The Great Unwaste webpages for tips and recipes to reduce food waste. 

• Compost food scraps, reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill.

If you do decide to buy clothing and footwear consider second hand options or purchasing items from brands that support sustainable and ethical practices.

Explore websites such as Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) and Good on You applications to find local and accredited businesses.

Many items we place out for Bulky Waste Collections or in our Bin Services can be repaired.​ Consider these options before recycling or disposing items. 

• Finding a local repair shop, handyperson or tailor to give your items a second life. 

• The Bower is an environmental charity offering programs and services to create a circular economy including Repair Cafes for furniture and electronics, Bike repairs and Sewing and mending basics.

• Joining a local working craft or repair group such as a Men's Shed. Sewing Guild or Knitters Guild to build skills to repair items yourself.

Many items we place out for Bulky Waste Collection or dispose in our Bin Services can be reused. Here are some examples of how to reuse items.

• Reverse Garbage is a creative reuse centre offering Workshops and DIY projects and a Reuse shop selling products that can be reused.

• Eco Styles an online platform for clothing swaps.

• The Bower Reuse Database tool helping to locate other organisations that can reuse household items.

Many items we place out for Bulky Waste Collections or dispose in our Bin Services can be resold.

You can try to:

• List items on online platforms such as Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Depop and eBay.

• Hold a garage sale or stall at a local market with friends and family. 

Or give your items a second-life by donating to:

• ​Charities and Op Shops.

If you have exhausted all the above options and have materials to recycle, here are some options are available:

• The A-Z Recycling and Recycle Mate application​ provides a comprehensive list of options available to responsibly reuse, recycle or responsibly dispose items. 

• Recycle right using the yellow-lidded recycling bin. Find out the list of accepted items on our Bin Services webpage or watch our short Waste Files - Recycle Right video series for a quick guide. 

• Use the ​Return and Earn container deposit scheme.

• E-Waste & Extras Drop-Off are regular council events that offer free recycling of e-waste including televisions, set top boxes, computers and more.

• Household Chemical CleanOut are Council and EPA NSW events that offer free recycling and safe disposal of chemicals including paints, chemicals, gas bottles and more.

• Batteries, CDS, DVDS and mobile phones  - can be recycled for free at:

  • Georges River Council Civic Centre – Corner of Dora and MacMahon Streets, Hurstville.

  • Clive James Library – Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street, Kogarah.

  • Hurstville Library - Corner of Queen and Dora Streets, Hurstville.
     

Support the Call for Responsible Product Stewardship

Product Stewardship is a policy that holds manufacturers, importers, and retailers responsible for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their lifecycle, including end-of-life disposal and recycling. Georges River Council in association with other local governments in Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) advocates for tougher regulation of materials that cannot be easily repaired, dismantled or recycled.
 

Consumers can support and drive change by:

• Asking retailers if they offer recycling or take-back programs.

• Choosing brands that participate in stewardship schemes.

• Encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
   

Find out more on Produce Stewardship: 

• Australian Government – National Product Stewardship.

• NSW EPA – Product Stewardship Schemes.

​Visit Planet Ark to view the latest news on reducing environmental impacts through sustainability and waste minimisation practices.

Find resources such as factsheets and posters on waste reduction topics: 

Eco-friendly Celebrations

• Eco-friendly guide for Christmas.

• Eco-friendly celebration tips.

• ​Eco-friendly gift wrapping guide.