In this section, we will recommend some methods involving reducing that you can try. (Note that methods involving the conservation of water and electricity will not be listed here but instead in the section on Conservation)

Tip 1: Plan what you want to buy first before going shopping so that you will not buy things that are not needed. In this way, you will reduce the items purchased.

Tip 2: When shopping, choose items that have less packaging over items with more packaging. Thus, you would be able to reduce the waste that is produced by the packaging.

Tip 3: Buy items that are durable as if they get faulty easily, you will have to spend money to buy a new one again.

Tip 4: If you need something just for a period of time and are not going to use it very often, borrow them as buying a new one will in turn produce more waste.

Tip 5: Recommend your family members to get a reusable bag for shopping instead of using plastic bags as using plastic bags will produce more waste than using a reusable bag.

Tip 6: Avoid using disposables products like diapers and plates as they are not really “Disposables”, they just produce even more waste than using non-disposables.

Tip 7: Ask your mum to cook just enough food for your family instead of cooking much more as when your family cannot finish them, the food will be wasted. Million of tons of food are wasted every year and yet, people are starving in Africa.

Tip 8: Instead of packing food in disposable (plastic) containers, pack them in containers that can be used again.

Tip 9: Purchase items that can be refilled. (e.g. pens). If you bought refillable pens, when there is no more ink in the pen, you only need to refill the ink again instead of buying another pen.

Tip 10: Try not to ask for a plastic bag if you are able to carry the items yourself or have bought a bag, to cut down the usage of paper.

Tip 11: When printing your homework or other document, remember to print on both sides of the paper. This helps to cut down on the paper needed.  A large percentage of waste is made up of paper.

Tip 12: Instead of printing copies of a document for everyone, just put a copy of it on the notice board or instead, send a copy of the document on the internet by email to everyone. 

Tip 13: Try to use a handkerchief instead of tissue paper as tissue papers are “disposable”. By using them, you will be producing more waste.

Tip 14: Try to conserve electricity by many different methods. Electricity is precious and should be saved instead. Before leaving a room, just make sure all electrical appliances are switched off.

Tip 15: Try to conserve water through various methods instead of wasting them as they are precious resources.

Tip 16: Try to encourage your teacher to allow you to submit your project or homework in soft copy instead of hard copy because if we submit through email, we can save paper.