A guide to how you can reduce packaging waste and report over-packaged goods in York.

Packaging unwrapped

Up to a quarter of the rubbish we throw away is packaging, such as glass, cardboard and plastics. In England, up to 73% of packaging can currently be recycled but of course, this also means some packaging cannot be recycled and must be sent to landfill. This is not only enviromentally unfriendly, but can be costly to dispose of.

In most cases, packaging plays an important role in protecting goods. This can include getting the product from the manufacturer to the customer in good condition. It can extend shelf life of food such as fruit or veg. Some packaging is unnecessary, excessive and leaves you with excess waste that is not wanted.

Packaging does cost money and can push up the price of some goods.

By choosing less packaged goods, shopping smart and identifying and reporting over-packaged goods, you can save money as well as reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

SMART Shopping

Everyone can make a difference to the amount of packaging waste that enters the waste stream.

A great way to make a difference is to Shop Smart.  This is simply using the power that you have as a consumer to choose to reduce the amount of heavily packaged goods you buy.

Smart shopping is easy, it doesn't take longer to do and it could save you money! Follow these simple steps and become a Smart Shopper...

The SMART shopping list:

• Buy loose fruit and vegetables - this creates less rubbish and loose fruit and vegetables can be cheaper.
• Buy refills for goods such as fabric conditioner, washing powders and some beauty products.
• Where possible, buy larger or economy sizes of goods such as breakfast cereal or tomato ketchup. This can save money and create less packaging in time.
• Buy items that are made with minimal or recycable packaging. Some supermarkets have launched a new labelling method to help identify these products.
• Choose longer life, energy efficient and rechargeable products, the purchase price may be more but they work out cheaper when you calculate the long-term energy savings.
• Buy a lunch box and maked packed lunches with reusable containers rather than foil or plastic wrap.
• Use chilled tap water rather than bottled water.
• Avoid buying pre-packed sandwiches from shops - save packaging and expense by making your own.
• Avoid disposable items (e.g. plastic cutlery, disposable cameras) and purchase re-usable alternatives.

REPORT IT!

We have a dedicated team at Trading Standards, committed to dealing with and taking action on your issues of over-packaged products.

The packaging of a product must have a volume and weight which has been kept to a minimum amount necessary to maintain levels of safety, hygiene, and acceptance for the packed product and the consumer. It is an offence for businesses to put their products on the market with too much packaging.

Is the packaging that comes with your purchases really necessary?

Trading Standards needs you to tell us when packaging is unacceptable to you so that we can investigate further. It is worth bearing in mind that the law on excessively packaged products applies to any goods - not just food. It also applies to outer packaging used for postage, bear this in mind next time you have something delivered that you ordered over the internet!

Already we have been able to help change the packaging of goods reported to us by York residents as being over-packaged.

Example 1

A York resident was concerned that the packaging of a supermarket brand dishwasher powder was excessive. A complaint was made to Trading Standards and an investigation carried out. Tests showed that the product only occupied just over 60% of the space within the packaging. Contact with the supermarket encouraged them to review the packaging and agree to make changes.

Example 2

A York consumer was concerned that they had been "short-measured" on the number of tablets in a container of health supplements. The resulting enquiry by Trading Standards showed that in fact whilst the number of tablets present was in fact correct, the containers was so excessive that at least four times as many tablets could be contained.  Contact with the manufacturers ensured that they reconsidered the suitability of that size of container and agreed to reduce the container size to something more appropriate.

How can you make a difference?

We are also encouragning businesses in the City to come to us for advice on this issue - we want to help businesses in the City to do all they can to reduce excessive packaging.

If you think a product has been packaged unnessarily, please contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or by emailing trading.standards@york.gov.uk.

(Please either keep a note of the product name, size and manufacturer to pass on to us or, if possible, retain the actual packaging.  Photographs can also be bery useful to give an idea of the extent of the packaging compared to the product itself.)

For general enquiries about recycling or for advice about minimising your packaging waste, please email the waste strategy team on recycling.team@york.gov.uk.

To find out more about what is being done to reduce the amount of packaging we send to landfill, please see recyclenow.