Environment Minister Edwin Poots has claimed that householders could save hundreds of pounds by taking small steps to reduce, reuse and recycle more.
This could involve simply making a shopping list in order to cut down on food waste, buying loose instead of packaged fruit and vegetables or using your own shopping bags.
Although somewhat simplistic, such actions could not only help the environment, but also save money. Food waste costs the average UK household £680 a year, whilst every fortnight Northern Ireland households throw away enough rubbish to fill the Waterfront Hall.
A Rethink Waste campaign is currently highlighting many waste prevention hints and 'thoughts' via television, radio stations, newspapers, publications and websites. Messages are also being seen on bus stops, buses and billboards, and on promotional bikes cycling around Belfast.
Referring to the initiative, Mr Poots said, "We all have an interest in reducing our waste. Preventing waste means that you are saving money by buying less and not having to pay to throw good produce away. Whether you are managing a major company or the household budget it just makes good economic common sense.
Continuing to send waste to landfill also means that we could face huge European Union fines and increasing landfill tax costs, which will ultimately add to our rates bills. The Rethink Waste campaign, with these everyday tips is designed to help us avoid this by raising awareness of how simple it is to reduce our waste.
We all have a part to play in managing our waste so I urge everyone, whether in school, at work, in the community or at home to do just one thing to prevent waste and help us avoid these fines and protect and improve our environment."
Hints and tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle can be found on the Rethink Waste NI website.
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