Waste

Waste

Waste is one of the easiest things to track and control, and a number of useful tools and initiatives have been set up to help with this.

Waste can be reduced by using less material (reduce), by using something again or borrowing rather than buying (reuse), or when these are not options, making sure that the materials you use are recyclable (recycle).

When thinking specifically about your own practice consider the following:

• What kind of waste is generated by your production processes?
• Can you reduce consumption of materials (for work, packing, administrative & promotional materials) by using recycling schemes,
• Can you offer materials, or offcuts for reuse?
• Can you avoid using single-use plastic? See the section on Materials for sources of non-plastic packaging.
• Can you reduce the amount you send to landfill through recycling or changing to materials that can be recycled, or even better reused?
• Perhaps your processes and/or their outcomes already involve the re-using or recycling of material, but you haven’t considered this as a sustainable activity because it is how you have always worked?
• Do you have any waste that can be disposed of through composting?
• If you use tools, are you able to repair rather than replace tools or equipment, or can you hire rather than buy them?
• Is there a tool library in your area, or a repair café? Check Zero Waste Scotland to see if there is something local to you.
• Can you access facilities in artist workshops, investigate the circular economy and participate in ways to redistribute your spare resources and materials?