Packaging

You can reduce packaging waste by buying items loose such as fruit and vegetables and choosing items that are not over packaged. See PLASTIC and See GLASS for details of shops that offer a refill service and tips on how to reduce packaging.

Buying concentrated products and buying in bulk saves you money and reduces packaging. Split items between friends or family members if you have too much to use at once or don't have the storage space.

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Use margarine tubs etc. for storing left-over food, instead of using foil or clingfilm.

Ask at your local playgroup, nursery or primary school to see if they could make use of plastic tubs, cardboard etc.

Alchemy Arts accept some packaging items: T: 07853 872 073, W: www.alchemyarts.org

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For details on how to recycle packaging materials: See GLASS , See CARD/CARDBOARD and See PLASTIC.

The following materials can be taken to the Packaging Recycling Points in Edinburgh: food and drink tins and cans; envelopes; clean aluminium foil; empty aerosol cans; plastic bottles; cardboard and cardboard food and drink cartons (e.g. Tetra Paks). See: W: www.sort-it.org.uk.

Please deposit items loose, not in plastic bags. Remove lids and wash out cans, tins, cartons and plastic bottles. Flatten cardboard and plastic bottles. It is important to note that only plastic bottles are collected for recycling at the moment (it doesn't matter what recycling number is marked on them), therefore no other types of plastic should placed into the Packaging Recycling Points. This is likely to change as the UK markets for other types of plastics continue to improve.

In the rest of the Lothians and the Scottish Borders, certain packaging items are accepted in kerbside collections. See KERBSIDE RECYCLING.