Small acts with a big impact

Last updated: 5 September 2024
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Even the smallest acts can make a big impact when it comes to creating a sustainable future. Whether it’s remembering your reusables, planning weekday dinners, checking what can go into each of your bins or taking used batteries to a drop-off point for recycling – there are many simple things you can do to help reduce waste and recycle more.

Discover some of the small yet powerful actions you can take and find out how these small acts are having a positive impact for our environment.

Use a reusable coffee cup
Switching to reusable coffee cups and remembering to take them every time you get a takeaway coffee reduces litter and the amount of waste in landfill, protects the planet by saving natural resources and saves you money.
Check what goes into your bins on your council website
Checking your council website to make sure you put the right thing in the right bin is a small act with a big impact on reducing what goes to landfill.
Remember your reusable bags
Remembering your reusable bags when you go shopping is a small act with a big impact on saving money and natural resources.
Check what food you have before you shop
The small act of checking what food you have before you shop has a big impact on reducing food waste which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the use of valuable resources.
Keep your recycling loose
Keeping your recycling loose and not in bags has a big impact on how effectively recycling is collected, sorted and processed which means it can be turned into new things like footpaths and roads.
Stick to your shopping list
Sticking to your shopping list is a small act with a big impact on reducing food going to waste because you only buy what you need.
Drop off used batteries for recycling
The small act of taking used batteries to a recycling drop-off point has a big impact on keeping harmful materials out of your bins and the environment.
Remove food and liquids from your recycling
The small act of removing food and liquids from your recycling has a big impact by preventing recyclables ending up in landfill.
Eat leftovers once a week
You can save money, time and the planet by eating leftovers once a week.
Remember your reusable water bottle
Remembering your reusable bottle when you leave home is a small act with a big impact on saving natural resources and the planet.
Plan weekday dinners
Planning weekday dinners is a small act with a big impact on reducing food waste which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the use of valuable resources.
Keep coated cardboard out of recycling
The small act of keeping coated cardboard out of recycling has a big impact on recovering more resources from your recycling to turn into new things like park benches.