Iain Gulland: We need to create less trash by making sure items are reused

Every year, thousands of re-usable items needlessly end up in landfill in Scotland, including around 125,000 sofas and around 365,000 TVs. These are just a couple of examples and, on the whole, we have a similar attitude to food, building materials and textiles.

Approaches such as recycling, composting, and anaerobic digestion address the end product but they don’t cover the main point. As a nation, we need to discard less of our material.

READ MORE: Scotland dumps more in landfill despite record recycling

There is a convenience approach in today’s society where we often take the disposable option when a bit of preplanning or forethought could not only minimise waste but also benefit the environment and each of us financially. A longer-term view can make a significant difference in how we deal with our products once they have served their original purpose.

The circular economy, where items are used time and again, gives us a way to cut down on what is sent to landfill. In business, this could be the recent example of the Bute Brew Co where using unsold rolls from the local Co-op to help make their Thoroughbread beer. They have taken a product that would likely be destined for landfill or incineration and turned it into something of value.

The implementation of the deposit return scheme is another way where materials can be given a new life rather than simply being thrown away. To make an impact on waste, we need to take this approach to reusing our resources and make it common place.

Landfill

Individuals can play their part by simply taking unwanted items to a second-hand shop. Clothes, toys, books, and not forgetting the bigger items such as sofas or TVs, should all be able to find new homes. Some of these could be reused as they are whilst the component parts of others can be stripped down and remanufactured into something new.

A recent survey by Zero Waste Scotland found over a third (37 per cent) of Scots who throw away some or all of their household items, clothing and books, do so because they didn’t think anyone else would want them. At the same time, 45% of people say if they could be assured of the quality they would be more likely to shop second-hand. There is a market for our unwanted goods.

When you consider the energy and resources that go into the production of food and also the emissions given when it hits landfill, this is an area where we have to improve. With leftovers, a quick online search can show all manner of recipes to use up the remains of last night’s dinner and there is nothing wrong with asking to take home a doggy bag if you have too much on your plate in a restaurant. Even taking a list to the supermarket can cut down on ‘impulse’ buys that will sit at the back of the fridge until they are thrown out.

Our raw materials are not endless. I believe that we are starting to understand the impact of our throwaway culture and the need to waste less and consume more sustainably making what we use go further.