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Welcome to The Regenerators.

What if everything we buy is designed to last a very long time, and when it’s no longer usable, we can get rid of it easily or it can be turned into something new? That’s called a circular economy.

We don’t live in a circular economy yet, which means some of the things we buy can only be used once or aren’t designed to last a lifetime – and we generate a lot of waste. According to Defra, the average person in the UK creates around 400 kilograms of waste per year. Much of the waste ends up in landfill and produces greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to climate change.

But don’t worry – there are easy ways you and your family can reduce how much stuff you throw away, and even save money.

Look up your local authority’s website to find out what you can and can’t put in your recycling bin. Some things you might think are recyclable, like pet food pouches, plastic bags, crisp packets and food wrapping, actually aren’t. If something isn’t recyclable, putting it in the wrong bin can contaminate the rest of the recycling and potentially send it to landfill.

Why not write down or print a list of what you can and can’t recycle and pin it above your bins? This can be a good reminder for when you or the kids aren’t sure which bin to use.

See if you have any books or toys that you no longer use and take them to a charity shop or sell them.

Try to avoid putting clothes in the recycling or refuse bin. If the clothes have holes in them or are not appropriate to be donated, put them in a separate bag with a label saying ‘rags’. Some charity shops will take rags, but it’s always good to check with them first.

Want to make money on the side? You can try organising a garage sale – just make sure you have the relevant permissions.

There are also lots of apps out there that you can use to sell or give away second-hand items, like Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. Before you list your item, have a look and see what similar items have sold for in the past to help you price your item appropriately. You could also either include the postage cost in the price, or ask the buyer to collect it from your home.

If selling online, make sure you keep any conversations with potential buyers within the website or app, so if things go wrong, it’s easier to escalate it.

Try and get your kids into the habit of swapping books and toys with family and friends before buying new ones. You can start by just swapping a couple of things with a friend or your neighbour. It's as simple as putting what you want to swap in a bag and giving it to them – there's nothing fancy to it!

Libraries are also a great place to borrow books. It’s free, won’t take up space in your home and can help reduce your environmental impact as the books are shared with lots of people.

If you do need to buy something new, check online or in a charity shop if you can get it cheaper by buying second-hand.

When it comes to buying online, make sure you check and understand what condition the item is in, from ‘brand new with tags’ to ‘used’. Ask for more photos or clarify the measurements if you need to. It's not impossible to find brand new items for nearly half the price on second-hand online platforms. You’d be surprised at what you could find!

Make a note of how many bin bags you throw away in a week (or how full your bins are), then the tips above to see if you can reduce the amount of stuff you throw away.

Take pictures so it’s easier to see how you get on, and share your journey on social media with the hashtag #TheRegenerators – we'd love to see it!

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