It’s estimated that UK households throw away an average of 60 pieces of plastic packaging per week – collectively around 1.7 billion pieces every week*. This year, the Plastic Free July campaign is aiming to set a world record for the number of people pledging to make a difference. 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.
“Every time we avoid throwing away a single-use item, we’re not just cutting waste – we’re also reducing disposal costs for taxpayers, which benefits everyone. These small changes can really add up – for your budget and for the planet.
"We know people do want to recycle a greater range of plastics via their kerbside collections, which is why we are building a new state-of-the-art recycling facility in Eastleigh. Once operational, it will help households across Hampshire recycle more items, including a wider range of plastics such as drinks cartons, pots, tubs, trays and soft plastic film.
“However, reducing the amount of plastic in our kerbside waste in the first place is even more beneficial than recycling. This starts with small, simple changes we can all make, like using a reusable coffee cup, or choosing loose fruit and veg rather than items covered in plastics.”
At home, work or school, there are easy steps everyone can take including:
• Take reusable ‘bags for life’ when shopping
• Switch to refillable or solid shampoo, soap and cleaning products
• Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles (many retailers offer discounts for bringing your own)
• Choose loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged options, this can save money too as you can just buy what you need
• Use beeswax wraps or reusable containers instead of cling film
• Try cloth nappies or reusable sanitary and incontinence products
To help make reusable options more affordable, Hampshire County Council partners with suppliers to offer residents a 15% discount on reusable nappies, period products and incontinence wear. Read more here.
Nappy Libraries across Hampshire also offer a try-before-you-buy service, with rental kits and expert advice for families exploring reusable options.
For more tips on how to reduce, reuse and repair, visit Hampshire’s Smart Living webpages: www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/smartliving.
Support the global Plastic Free Pledge World Record attempt on Wednesday 1 July via the County Council’s webpages or by visiting: www.plasticfreejuly.org
The new Materials Recovery Facility is expected to be operational during 2028. It will support households across Hampshire to recycle a wider range of materials, including plastic packaging such as pots, tubs, trays, cartons and soft plastic film, as well as glass, metal, paper and cardboard. This follows the recent expansion of food waste collections across the county.