A staggering 70 per cent of the waste in our dustbins could be reused, yet just eight per cent of UK household waste is recycled. While this is wasteful - and poor stewardship of the earth's resources - it also damages the climate. Why? Because 80 per cent of our rubbish goes straight into landfill sites, which emit CO2 and methane (Waste Online, www.wasteonline.org.uk).

Landfills are the second largest source of methane emission in the UK. Yet by reusing and recycling our waste we can reduce the rubbish destined for landfills and incineration, and the greenhouse gases they emit.

Reduce

Every year we throw away 165 million tonnes of waste in the UK.

Fact: We use around 150 million plastic bags every week in the UK - most of which end up in landfill sites and take 500 years to decompose (Waste Online, www.wasteonline.org.uk).

Tip: Reduce the number of plastic bags you use - get a fabric or reusable bag.

Fact: Eight million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, making up four per cent of landfill waste (Recycle Now (www.recyclenow.com).

Tip: Investigate using a nappy laundry service rather than disposable ones.

Fact: UK consumers spend up to £15 billion per year on food packaging.

Tip: Choose loose produce where possible and avoid excess packaging.

Fact: Britons receive nearly 4 billion items of direct mail per year, one-third of it unread.

Tip: Stop unwanted mail being sent to you - register at the Mailing Preference Service (www.mpsonline.org.uk).

Reuse

Think about how you can reuse things, rather than just throwing them in the bin:

• Jam jars, takeaway trays and ice-cream containers make handy food storage containers
• Envelopes can be used again if you stick labels over the address
• Buy rechargeable batteries and products instead of disposable ones
• Buy products such as washing powder in refillable containers
• Take your old clothes and books to charity shops

Recycle

Almost a third of our domestic waste could go straight onto the compost heap. Composting organic waste is the most efficient way to reduce the methane emitted by landfill sites:

• Turn your tea bags and food scraps into compost to send nutrients back to the soil, where they can be reused. Contact your council for details of local composting schemes. For more information please see www.recycle-more.co.uk.