Waste and Recycling

One of the most efficient ways that we can help the environment by reducing waste is to consider the 3 R’s in our daily habits:

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle

Reduce your consumption

• reducing how much we throw away can make a big difference. Consider what we are buying, ask yourself – can it be borrowed from a friend, bought second hand, or purchase an alternative with less packaging?
• Chorley has many local businesses, such as hardware and ironmongers, market stalls, refill stores and farm shops, which sell everyday groceries and household items loose. This way you can buy the quantity that you need in your own container to reduce waste!
• Chorley Repair Cafe is a local group of volunteers who try to repair broken items and extend their life. There are also traditional cobblers and alterations services around the borough, for clothing repairs and alterations.
• try home composting or the council's garden waste collection service for food and garden waste. Avoid burning rubbish on bonfires, as they can affect our health through poor air quality!
• learn more here about how to reduce your waste

Reuse what you can

The next best option is to reuse.

• do you have things you no longer need, but are still useful? Consider passing them on to friends or family, selling them using online platforms (Chorley Freegle, Freecycle, Vinted or Social Media groups).
• you could even create your own community 'swap shop'.
• get creative! Transform your old items, by ‘upcycling’ them into something new. View some upcycling ideas that you may not have thought of!

Recycle what you can

• recycling breaks down your rubbish to use as feedstock for new products
• collection, sorting and reprocessing still uses energy, which is why it is often better to reduce and reuse where possible. But recycling can save lots of waste.

You can read more about what happens to your waste and recycling and visit the waste section of the Chorley Council website to find information on bin collections