SIZZLING SUMMER ADVICE

14 Awst 2006

Whilst the skies are turning blue, bright yellow sunshine is streaming through your windows and your cheeks are looking rosier, Waste Awareness Wales is urging people to think green this summer.

From drink cans guzzled in the hot weather to disposal items used at summer parties and picnics, it all contributes to the rubbish mountain, totalling 4 million tonnes, thrown away in Wales each year.

You can do your bit to help combat this problem by introducing small changes to your daily routine – even the little changes can make a big difference.

Whether it’s using reusable containers to keep your sandwiches fresh for your picnics or days out or re-filling your water bottle with fresh water rather than buy a new bottle every time – reducing, reusing and recycling your waste is easy.

An ideal way of practicing your waste reduction, reuse and recycling skills this summer is at summer parties – they are a firm favourite with us all during the hot summer months so why not make sure your parties are big on taste and low in waste'

To help you along the way, Waste Awareness Wales has come up with some top tips for you to follow this summer:

1. Make sure you find out exact number of guests to your summer party so you buy only what you need

2. Fruit and vegetables often come pre-packed but buy them loose and save on unnecessary packaging waste

3. Avoid buying pre-packaged salad ingredients - try to buy the loose individual ingredients to make your own and put it in a reusable container to keep it fresh

4. Rather than spend a small fortune on disposable plastic knives and forks and paper plates, just use normal ones and if you haven’t got enough to go round, ask your friends to bring some with them

5. Empty drink cans and glass bottles can also be recycled at your local bring site or if your area is covered by a Kerbside recycling collection, you can pop them into your recycle box or bag.

Councillor Richard Parry-Hughes, Chairperson for Waste Awareness Wales, explains how easy and important it is for everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste:

"The summer months are always jam-packed with activity and by doing little things at home or when you’re away can have a positive impact on our environment.

"Summer parties and picnics offer a great opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle even more; you can even practice your good habits when you’re out and about. If you are visiting a tourist attraction or a theme park which has no recycling facilities nearby, just take your waste home and recycle it."

"What better way to enjoy a hot summers’ day than a trip to one of the beautiful landscapes we are lucky to have in Wales'  If we want to preserve these landscapes for future generations to enjoy, we can all act now and do simple things like following our top tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste we produce this summer and continue those good habits throughout the year."