We all like shiny new things. But there’s a developing trend – buying things cheaply and changing them when a new trend appears- it’s called “Fast Tech”.
According to Material Focus 2023, every year, the average UK adult buys nine Fast Tech items and throws away eight. This means that millions of electrical items are binned every week. And often they are still in working condition. The low cost and the small size can make them feel less valuable but, despite their small size, their environmental impact is huge. And it gets worse; a lot of this stuff could be recycled.
When these things are thrown away instead of recycled, valuable resources are lost forever. To make new stuff, more raw materials need to be mined from the ground. Every one of these items contains precious metals such as gold, platinum or copper – it may be in small amounts, but it all adds up. The more we recycle the less new materials we need to mine, process and transport raw material.
Lots of our electrical gadgets contain batteries, including rechargeable batteries hidden inside. When they get crushed in bin lorries or at recycling facilities, these batteries can cause fires which put workers at risk.
We’ve all been tempted to buy stuff we don’t really need, whether it is a pair of light up trainers or pocket-sized mini fan, ‘Fast Tech’ is not made to last so make sure you recycle it when it’s ready for the bin to keep those precious materials in circulation for as long as possible.
The good news is that recycling unwanted electrical stuff is easy. Whether it’s a broken pair of headphones, an old phone charger or a worn-out electric toy, every item counts. Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled. You can take them back to a large retailer or drop them off at a recycling centre. Use this handy locator to find your nearest recycling point.
For more tips on how to create less electrical waste throughout the year, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Recycle4GM, TikTok recycleforgm.
I’ve loved spending the summer holidays with my kids. The weather has been good enough to have BBQs, sunny days out and get the paddling pool out in the garden.
But after 6 weeks of juggling work and holiday clubs, and hearing “Muuumm, I’m bored!”, “Muuuum, I’m hungry”, I’m more than ready for the kids to go back to school.
Getting ready for a new school year can cost a lot and create extra waste. Here are a few simple ways to make back to school a bit cheaper and more sustainable.
Children grow quickly, so it’s always worth checking what you already have before buying more uniform items. Look out for missing buttons, loose hems or small tears that can be fixed. PE pumps are usually only worn indoors, so if they still fit, they might last another term.
Before you buy new stationery, have a look at what you already have at home. If your house is anything like mine, there are probably pencils, rubbers and every kind of colouring pen tucked away in drawers and cupboards. Keep the ones your child likes best and think about donating any spares to a children’s hospital or local cause.
It’s lovely for children to start a new school year in a fresh uniform, but it doesn’t all need to be brand new. I’ve found lots of branded cardigans and hoodies in my local charity shop. Instead of spending more than £20 on one item, I can often pick one up for £3 or £4 and save the rest for shoes and trainers, which never seem to last long!
Lots of schools now run uniform swaps too. They’re a great way to save money, help another family and give last year’s uniform a new home.
If you do need to buy a new stuff, try choosing a size with a little room to grow. It could save you having to buy the same item again in a few months.
We’ve bought so many branded water bottles over the years, only for them to be used for a few months before the next film or character becomes the new favourite.
Last year, we went for a plain bottle that could be decorated with stickers and changed whenever needed. Not only was it cheaper, it also meant we weren’t buying another plastic bottle every few months.
We’re heading into Year 3, so there will be a mix of school dinners and packed lunches. I like batch cooking, and I’m hoping a bit of planning will make lunches easier to sort the night before.
I have also had to get creative to keep lunchboxes interesting and make sure they come home empty. Buying bigger packs can help save money and cut down on packaging. For example, you could buy a large block of cheese and cut it up yourself instead of buying individually wrapped snacks. Reusable pouches and small tubs are also handy for yoghurt, fruit and other lunchbox bits.
For more tips on how to waste less this back to school and through the year follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Recycle4GM, TikTok recycleforgm.
It’s about choosing to refuse single–use plastics and about the simple swaps to reduce the amount of plastic you use. Plastic is made from fossil fuels. Often single-use plastic is low quality and harder to recycle. The best thing to do is to avoid it completely where we can.
For more ideas visit PlasticFreeJuly.org
Anyone can start one in their neighbourhood and the good news is there’s funding available to help you. The Renew Community Fund runs each year and funds projects reduce waste, encourage reuse and repair, and support local people
Here are some more tips to help you get started:
Visit your local repair café
It’s really useful to experience first hand how a repair café is run and see the processes involved, like signing people in and allocating the person who does the fix. Repairers are a friendly bunch and helping is in their nature, they’ll be happy to answer your questions about starting your own café. Send them a message and pop down.
Find a space
You’ll need somewhere that can fit in several repair stations. Church halls, community centres and council buildings are popular venues for repair cafes. Most run once a month for 2 hours, often on a weekend morning. It might be worth checking the dates of other repair cafes in your area so you don’t clash.
Get funding
There are a few costs involved in starting a repair café. On average, you’ll need around £1,500 to cover the first year. Things like venue hire, insurance, small bits of equipment, printing posters and advertising on social media will need paying for. The Renew Community fund offers grants between £1,000-£20,000.
Find volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of repair cafes; they give their time and expertise every month. Social media – especially Facebook – is a great place to put a call out for volunteers. You could also put posters on community noticeboards and at libraries. Remember to explain what skills you’re after; it’s not just people who do the fixing, the front of house people who check people in are vital members of every repair café team.
Advertise your repair café
Create a free Facebook page for your new repair café so people know when and where it is. Share the info on local neighbourhood group pages and ask people to spread the word. You can also put physical posters up around the neighbourhood to tell people it’s happing. Get added to the free Repair Directory where all the Greater Manchester cafes are listed.
Now you’re ready to join the repair revolution and help your community keep the stuff they love for longer!
If you’ve been observing your Lent fast, you’re likely eagerly anticipating a well-earned chocolate treat and some quality family time. Easter is a season of chocolates, hot cross buns, and the classic roast dinner are all part of the celebration. However, these delights often generate a considerable amount of waste.
Here are our top tips to help you enjoy a greener Easter by minimising waste and recycling wherever possible.
The variety of Easter eggs available nowadays is truly impressive, with countless sizes and flavours to choose from. Fortunately, enjoying these treats needn’t be accompanied by feelings of guilt about waste, as most packaging can be recycled.
Many Easter treats like hot cross buns, vegetables, and sweets are sold in plastic packaging. Soft plastics aren’t currently accepted in your household recycling bin, but most supermarkets do offer soft plastic collection points. Store your soft plastics until you can take them to the supermarket. A bread bag makes a handy storage solution it may look small, but it can fit a surprising amount of wrappers.
Organising an Easter egg hunt is a highlight of the holiday for many families. To make it more sustainable, try using reusable eggs. These can be filled with small treats or toys and, once found, stored away for future years, reducing waste and adding to the fun year after year.
Nothing quite beats a Sunday roast, and Easter is the perfect opportunity to gather loved ones for what might be the best roast of the year. To avoid unnecessary waste, keep these tips in mind:
If you’re planning some spring cleaning during the holiday, remember you can take any excess waste to your local tip.
Our Recycling Centres are open as usual over the Bank Holiday, from 8am-8pm.
Exceptions include:
– Salford Road which is open 10am-4pm on Bank Holidays
– Newton Heath Recycling Centre (Reliance Street) which is still temporarily closed for improvement works.
Here’s everything you need to know to stay sustainable during your Seder and spring cleaning.
This quick guide explains everything you want to know about recycling and dealing with waste this Passover. Making the most of your recycling bins at home frees up space in your general waste bin for those non-recyclable items.
We can now recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays at home during Passover. Plastic food packaging such as meat and fruit trays, chocolate tubs and yoghurt pots can all be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. Just make sure to give them a quick rinse before binning them – it helps keep your bin nice and clean.
Find out more about recycling plastics at home, including how to save space in your bin.
Bleach bottles, spray bottles, aerosols and more go in your mixed recycling bin to be recycled into new products. If lids can be easily removed, put them into the general waste bin as they can disrupt the separation process at our recycling facility. If lids are attached, then recycle the whole bottle.
When cleaning out your kitchen, old food can go straight into your food and garden bin. All our food and garden waste gets turned into compost in just 6 weeks, and that compost is used to grow more food locally.
All food can go in the food and garden bin, including lamb bones, eggshells and any leftovers you might have from your Seder.
Take extra waste and larger items to your local recycling centre
Too much waste for your bin? Your local recycling centre (the tip) is open 8am till 8pm every day. It’s free to use and you can recycle over 40 different types of materials when you visit.
If you’re visiting in a car, just turn up and tell staff what you need to dispose of, if you’re using a van you’ll need to get a free van permit before your visit.
Not sure where your nearest tip is? Find your closest recycling centre.
Renew collects bikes, furniture and other household items donated at recycling centres and sells them to raise money for charities and community groups in Greater Manchester. Just take your stuff along to the tip and the staff will happily direct you to the donation container. Before you go, Find out what can be donated.
Chag Sameach!
After learning that more than 22 million pumpkins are wasted each Halloween, I challenged myself to see how many meals I could make from one pumpkin.
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If you’re preparing to observe in the Holy month of Ramadan this year you are probably busy planning on self-reflection, donating and family time. And eating, of course. Here’s our guide to staying sustainable this Ramadan…
Food, glorious food!There’s often so much food about when breaking your fast at iftar. Avoid letting anything go to waste by planning your meals in advance. Make a shopping list and only buy the foods you need. If you do end up with leftovers, store them properly to keep them fresher for longer or share with family, friends and the community to multiply your blessings this Ramadan.
If you’re eating less and find you have more leftovers than usual, why not use them to make new meals? Get creative by making a biriyani from leftover veggies or why not try making a pizza from your old naans? We’ve got loads of hacks to make the most of your food.
Welcoming guests to your home means you might be buying more than usual when you cook. Don’t to forget to recycle items like tomato cans, yogurt tubs, date trays and bottles of pop in your mixed recycling bins. Just make sure you give them a rinse to stop your bins from smelling.
This month is the time to get together and celebrate, if you are planning on making your home more festive, why not try to make your own decorations? You can make some great paper moons. Just start by searching for origami templates online. You can also find downloadable colouring pages that will bring your family together and can add a splash of colour into your house!
If you chose to decorate, consider saving those decorations for next year or recycle them in the right bins.
Generating more rubbish than usual? Don’t forget about your local tip. They’re free to visit and with over 20 across Greater Manchester, there’s one near you. Find your local tip. You’ll find special places for lots of items you can’t put in your bins at home like batteries, clothing, electricals and even cooking oil. Taking it to the tip means we can recycle it and turn it into something new.
Find us on our socials and tell us what your waste-less top tips are, we love to hear what inspires you to reduce, reuse and recycle!
Why not consider buying preloved gifts this Christmas? You can get low priced bikes, kitchenware and so much more from our Renew shops. New to Renew? Sign up to the mailing list, you’ll get 10% off everything in our online shop
We all have loads of stuff at Christmas. More stuff means there’s more to recycle. Don’t forget all those extra plastic pots for cream or custard, mince pie trays and Christmas pudding or sweetie tubs can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. If they’re grubby, just given them a little rinse and then recycle. You’ll stay on Santa’s nice list for sure.
Sick of the sight of wrapping paper? Why not swap it for reusable cloth or gift bags this year. If you do go traditional, remember that not all wrapping paper is actually paper. Some is made with plastic or foil. To check if it can be recycled, scrunch the paper into a ball and it stays scrunched, you can recycle it. If it bounces back, it contains plastic and should go in your general waste bin.
In the UK, each year we throw away £42million of unwanted presents! If you receive a gift that’s not something you would use, you don’t need to bin it. You could donate it to charity, regift it later in the year, or sell it online. Remember one person’s trash is someone else’s treasure.
Boxing Day is the busiest day of the year at our recycling centres, with thousands of visitors. So before you travel, have a think if you really need to go, or if your visit could wait a few days. All our 19 recycling centres are open every day except Christmas day and New Year’s Day.
Think you might be using a van to get rid of excess rubbish? Don’t forget to apply for your free van permit – you won’t be able to visit without one. The last day to apply for a van permit before Christmas is 19th December 2025.
Whether your offspring are moving out for the first time, or coming back for summer, these hacks will save you time and money.
Things they no longer want can be loved by someone else. Donate clothes to textile banks and charity shops. Donate furniture, sports equipment and bric-a-brac to Renew at your local recycling centre. Renew refurbishes the pre-loved items and sells them to raise money for good causes across Greater Manchester. You can also bag a pre-loved bargain at their physical and online shops.
Boxes are an essential moving tool but there’s no need to waste money on brand new ones. Instead, ask your local supermarket for cardboard packaging boxes which they’ll normally give you for free. When you’re done you can collapse the boxes and save them for the next move or recycle them in your paper and card bin.
When cleaning out kitchen cupboards, cans, tins and unopened non-perishable food can be donated to your local food bank. Make sure the food is in date and anything that’s expired or opened can be recycled in your food and garden bin.
Instead of wrapping fragile items in sheets of bubble wrap, use towels, blankets or clothes to protect them during the move. This zero-waste hack avoids using single-use plastic and it’s free.
Some charities will collect things like bed frames and furniture from you. If the items are damaged or can’t be reused, you can arrange a bulky waste collection with the local council.
