As we’ve discussed on the Forge blog before, Christmas is a wasteful time of year where peoples’ usual, eco-conscious behaviour sometimes goes out the window.
I think most of us are guilty of having bought a few last-minute gifts or too much food at this time of year.
However, there are ways to avoid this panic and waste and have a more sustainable Christmas this December.
Continue reading How to enjoy a more sustainable ChristmasMost of us are guilty of a wardrobe full of clothes we never wear — whether that’s because they’re no longer the right size, they’re out of fashion, or they were an impulse buy we’ve never worn.
This wardrobe-stuffing has been encouraged by fast fashion, which has enabled people to buy endless items of clothing without breaking the bank or giving each purchase much thought.
With so many clothes to choose from, many of us struggle to decide what to wear each day — and a surprising number of us end up reaching for the same pieces daily, to avoid the decision.
This situation could be avoided with the implementation of a capsule wardrobe.
With such busy lives and many of us wishing to move over to more sustainable ways of living, a capsule wardrobe could make life simpler and eco-friendlier for everyone.
If you’re reading this blog post, you must be as intrigued as we were when we found out about this innovative recycling scheme in Rome.
We have recently been working on boosting recycling rates in Leeds city centre alongside Hubbub and many other organisations as part of a scheme called Leeds By Example.
This has been such a success that it is now being rolled out in other areas of the country.
An important aspect of Leeds By Example was the variety of bins installed around the city. They were varied to see which became the most popular and therefore encouraged the most recycling.
It transpired that people were most drawn to those that offered rewards, such as money-off coupons. In Italy, they are working on a similar tactic.
Continue reading How recycling in Rome leads to free travelBonfire Night is an annual British commemoration observed on 5 November to celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
Due to Guy Fawkes and his accomplices planning to blow up King James I of England and the House of Lords, fire has always been involved in celebrations regarding the failed plot.
Effigies of Guy Fawkes are often placed on these bonfires to burn. In modern times, fireworks are also synonymous with 5 November.
Unfortunately, it has come to light in recent times that Bonfire Night can have a detrimental effect on the environment.
This is down to the materials being burned and the chemicals in the fireworks, all of which create air pollution which can be problematic to humans, animals and the earth.
So, what can we do about this? We outline some ideas below.
Continue reading How to enjoy a greener Bonfire NightHalloween is just around the corner and with it comes all manner of traditions — from fancy dress parties to trick or treating, and everything in-between.
Unfortunately, these traditions are often fairly wasteful — however, it’s surprisingly simple to make them less so.
Below, we take a look at how you can make your Halloween celebrations more sustainable this year, and for future years too.
Continue reading How to plan a sustainable HalloweenSunny summer days are synonymous with splashing around in a cooling swimming pool and hanging out at the beach.
So, what do we take with us for these excursions? Towels, swimming costumes, sun lotion, and inflatables, of course.
This blog post takes a look at the recycling of inflatables.
Continue reading How to recycle summer’s pool inflatablesHundreds of news articles have been written over the past few years about the rise of plastic waste and with it, plastic litter.
While there’s no denying that plastic is everywhere nowadays, there is some confusion as to why plastic is so bad for our planet.
After all, it’s still mass-produced, and people are still regularly bringing it into their homes.
Plastic is everywhere you look in the home — whether it’s the handwash container and shampoo bottle in the bathroom, the toys in the lounge, or the utensils and food storage boxes in the kitchen.
There’s a difference between single-use plastic and plastic products that are created to be reused. However, there are risks associated with both.
This blog post takes a look at why plastic is such a problem for the environment.
Continue reading Why is plastic bad for the planet?In Leeds, the local council provides an excellent household recycling service and accepted items include paper, cardboard, cans, tins, and plastics 1, 2, 4 and 5.
However, several items in particular confuse a lot of householders. Can they be recycled or not?
We all live busy lives, and this can mean we don’t always check the numbers on plastic against the list provided by the local authority.
Some people may not stop to think about what to do with an item if it can’t be recycled kerbside, either.
This results in items ending up in the recycling bin when they shouldn’t, and items being sent to landfill when they could have been recycled.
Below are three things that can’t be recycled kerbside in Leeds.
Continue reading Three things that aren’t recycled kerbside in Leeds
Thank you to everyone who entered. The competition is now closed and the winners are listed on the Rafflecopter widget below.
It is Zero Waste Week and, as usual, we have a giveaway in place to help you reduce your waste and live a more sustainable life.
Seeing as we now offer paper cup recycling as one of our services, this year our prizes are reusable coffee cups.
Using a reusable cup saves paper cup waste, is far more sustainable, and usually results in a discount for you when you visit your local coffee shop!
The benefits are numerous.
Continue reading Zero Waste Week giveawayWe are all very familiar with glass — it is a common material that is used to make a plethora of items inside and outside of our homes.
In fact, most of us probably take it for granted!
Have you ever stopped and wondered how glass is made and how it is recycled? This blog post takes a look at all things glass.
Continue reading What is glass?
