Recycling is part of a wider approach

What can you address before it reaches the bin?

At work, you recycle paper carefully, but documents are often printed twice by mistake. Recycling deals with waste that’s already been created; changing the print settings and checking a document before sending it could address the cause. So a green habit doesn’t have to mean handling more waste better. It can also mean preventing something unnecessary from being created in the first place.

The European Commission’s waste hierarchy lists waste prevention as the preferred option. It’s a general framework for waste management, not an exact calculation of the impact of each product. In everyday practice, it raises a useful question: can we avoid unnecessary consumption before we deal with what’s left?

For waste that’s already been created, follow the current guidance from your local authority or waste collection company. Don’t guess the rules from the colour of a bin or what you’ve seen in another town. If you’re not sure what to do with a particular package, check the local guidance. Assuming that a recycling facility will automatically fix every decision won’t resolve the uncertainty.

Keep track of how much waste you generate, too. Recycling more material doesn’t necessarily mean less waste if you’re also buying and throwing away more. For printing, you could track unnecessary printouts; for packaging, you could look for recurring sources of unwanted waste. Choose an approach that suits the task. Necessary documents, hygiene requirements and safety shouldn’t be compromised just to put less in the bin.