What you can do

Waste & Recycling

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Making an Impact

What is the Waste Hierarchy?

The waste hierarchy helps prioritise actions to reduce waste, guiding sustainable daily choices.

Waste diagram
Waste diagram

  • Prevent

    At the top of the hierarchy is prevention. This could mean avoiding unnecessary purchases or choosing products with minimal packaging.

  • Reduce

    Try reducing your unnecessary waste by opting for items with fewer materials, like products with minimal packaging.

  • Reuse

    Reusing can mean anything to extend a product’s life, e.g, mend clothing instead of buying new, or using something for another purpose.

  • Recycle

    Can the materials be turned into something new? If yes, we can recycle them to make new products.

  • Recover

    If recycling isn’t possible, we can try to get energy or useful materials from the waste. This might happen through special processes like breaking down food waste or burning the waste to make energy.

  • Dispose

    If nothing else works, we have to throw away the waste. This might mean putting it in a landfill or burning it without getting energy.

The Circular Economy Model

These practices align with the circular economy model, where materials remain in use for as long as possible, helping to reduce environmental impact.

Arrow pointing to the right
Circular economy diagram

Source: European Parliament

Actions to Reduce Waste

Person emptying food waste into larger bin
Young girl picks up litter

Join the Rethink Waste Scheme

Earn points by completing eco-friendly tasks with Surrey Environment Partnership’s Rethink Waste scheme. Use points to win prizes, donate to charity, or redeem rewards.

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Local Repair Shops

Young person fixes bike
Person fixing watch
Arrow facing downwards
Person litter picking
Young man collects litter

Volunteer for Litter Picking

If you would like to request the loan of equipment for a community event, please download and complete the Equipment Request form and then email it to litterpick@molevalley.gov.uk

Please send us your request at least two weeks before your event. We will then contact you to confirm equipment availability and further details.

Please also email molevalley@jointwastesolutions.org to arrange for the bagged litter to be collected after your event.

Actions to Reduce Waste

Join the Rethink Waste Scheme

Earn points by completing eco-friendly tasks with Surrey Environment Partnership’s Rethink Waste scheme. Use points to win prizes, donate to charity, or redeem rewards.

Young girl picks up litter
Person emptying food waste into larger bin
Arrow facing downwards

Local Repair Shops

Young person fixes bike
Person fixing watch
Arrow facing downwards

Volunteer for Litter Picking

If you would like to request the loan of equipment for a community event, please download and complete the Equipment Request form and then email it to litterpick@molevalley.gov.uk

Please send us your request at least two weeks before your event. We will then contact you to confirm equipment availability and further details.

Please also email molevalley@jointwastesolutions.org to arrange for the bagged litter to be collected after your event.

Young man collects litter
Person litter picking

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)

A material recovery facility (MRF) is typically where we send all our recycled waste to be sorted.

Want to learn more?

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Food & Drink

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Shopping

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Travel & Transport

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Nature and Biodiversity

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Energy

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