Cut down on waste and get an extra £200 in your pocket

Catherine Windrow works for North London Waste Authority and took part in Green Space at the North Observatory earlier this term. Here she shares some easy tips to reduce waste, improve your environmental impact and save money. 

When you waste food, you’re practically throwing money in the bin. But by using a few simple tips, you can get smarter about your food habits and could save around £200 a year!

Get crafty with leftovers

There are often a few bits in the kitchen just laying around… a couple of potatoes, half a jar of mayonnaise, the odd onion, which are easily forgotten about. Do you need to go shopping? Wait! Think about how those items could be used; they would be great in a potato salad. Instead of re-stocking the fridge, these small bits and pieces could be transformed into new meals; saving you money. Visit the Wise up to Waste recipes page to find out more.

And, when you do need to buy more food:

• Write a list and stick to it: don’t buy want you don’t need… simple!
• Avoid temptation: don’t be fooled into thinking you really need to buy that ‘amazing’ 2 for 1 deal unless you can definitely make use of the second item.

Super storage

Find ways to keep your food fresher for longer:

• The way we store food can make a big difference to how long it stays fresh. For instance, fruit and veg last longer if kept in the fridge… Did you know a vacuum-packed cucumber will last up to three days longer if kept in its packaging? Now, there’s one for your pub quiz!
• Freezing extra portions of your leftover meals means fast and free lunches, simply pop in the microwave, defrost and ‘ping!’ one delicious meal served up in minutes.

Know your labels

There’s nothing worse than going to the fridge and discovering that posh dessert you’d been saving is way past its sell by date.

• The ‘use by’ date is found on perishable foods that could make us ill if we eat them after this date, including dairy, meat or fish.
• ‘Best before’ dates refer to quality, rather than food safety and eating food after this date is unlikely to be harmful – for example, bread, fruit and veg are safe to eat after this date has passed.

Love your clothes!

An estimated £140 million worth (around 350,000 tonnes) of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year... Stop!

Swishing is a way to have a clear out and get a whole new wardrobe without spending any money, by getting together with friends or family to swap clothes, accessories and shoes. Common rooms, pubs and student unions make great venues for swishing parties. Find out how to make the most of your wardrobe and Love Your Clothes.

Get ideas on how to hold your own swishing party: download your free Swishing Party Pack.

Find out more about North London Waste Authority and get loads more tips and suggestions to help you cut down on waste and save money.