On average in the UK, each person creates 76kg of plastic waste annually – 20 times more than 50 years ago – and each household throws away 66 items of plastic packaging every week.
Single-use plastics, such as disposable packaging, nappies, and hygiene products, contribute to carbon emissions during production and are costly to dispose of through household waste systems.
Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Universal Services, said: “Almost half of all plastic is made for single use – things like drinks bottles, coffee cups, and food packaging. But there are easy, affordable alternatives that many people are already switching to. These small changes can really add up – for your budget and for the planet.
“Every time we avoid throwing away a single-use item, we’re not just cutting waste – we’re also reducing the cost of disposal on the taxpayer, which helps everyone.”
Simple swaps like using a refillable water bottle, bringing your own shopping bags, or choosing loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged can make a noticeable difference.
- Take reusable ‘bags for life’ with you when shopping
- Switch to refillable shampoo, soap, and cleaning products
- Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles
- Choose loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged
- Use beeswax wraps or containers instead of cling film
- Try cloth nappies or reusable sanitary and incontinence products.
To make reusable options more affordable, Hampshire County Council has partnered with suppliers to offer all residents a 15% discount on reusable nappies, period products, and incontinence wear.
Nappy Libraries across Hampshire also offer a try-before-you-buy service, with rental kits and expert advice to support families exploring reusable options.
Visit Hampshire’s Smart Living webpages for tips, discount schemes, and more ways to reduce, reuse, repair, recycle.
NB: Source of statistics