Recycle

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  We pledge to sort out our waste into the correct glass, plastic, paper, metal recycling and compostable bins.

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  Did you know that compostable items include fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, crushed egg shells and garden trimmings?

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  We pledge to make someone a gift out of recyclable materials.

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  Did you know that a biscuit box could make a great toolbox? An old dress could become a new bag and cards can be made out of old magazines.

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  We pledge to organise a ‘book swap’ with friends.

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  Did you know that you can save the trees, and some money, by swapping books and magazines instead of buying new ones?

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  We pledge to set up a compost heap in the garden.

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  Did you know that composting green waste (such as food scraps and garden trimmings) helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions? It also produces rich fertilizers for your garden!

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  We pledge to recycle or repurpose all unwanted clothes and toys over two years old.

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  Did you know the more things that can be re-used by others means less ends up in a landfill

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  We pledge to make a special poster to help us remember all the different recycling symbols.

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  Did you know that each type of recyclable material has its own universally-recognisable symbol?

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  We pledge to get greener replacements for all our worn out things.

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  Did you know that if you look hard enough, there’s often an environmentally friendly replacement for just about any product?

Energy

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  We pledge to cover our pans when we boil them.

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  Did you know that covering a pan speeds up the boiling process, saving you time and energy?

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  We pledge to boil and fill the kettle with only the water we need.

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  Did you know that nearly two thirds of the British population wastes energy by boiling too much water?

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  We pledge to turn on the washing machine only when it’s fully loaded.

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  Did you know that the half-load setting on your washing machine actually uses more than half the energy and water of a full load?

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  We pledge to improve the energy efficiency of our home by fitting some insulation.

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  Did you know that a poorly insulated house loses three quarters of its heat? Letting less escape mean you can turn down the thermostat, still feel warm and save a lot of money on bills too.

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  We pledge to switch off at the wall all devices and appliances when not using them.

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  Did you know that appliances continue to draw on your power supply when they’re plugged into a socket that is on? Items left on ‘standby’ account for 8 – 10% of electricity used in the home.

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  We pledge to keep the heating a bit lower than usual by turning it down by a few degrees.

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  Did you know that heating the home means heating the planet? So if you start feeling cold, don’t turn up the thermostat. Why not wrap up in something warm instead!

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  We pledge to turn off our mobiles at night.

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  Did you know that less recharging means less energy consumption?

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  We pledge to replace all our light-bulbs with renewable ones.

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  Did you know that you could save up to 70% of your electricity bill by switching to energy efficient light bulbs?

Waste

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  We pledge to make sure nothing in the fridge is wasted.

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  Did you know that food that goes into the bin ends up in landfill and produces methane – a gas which is even more destructive than carbon dioxide in causing climate change?

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  We pledge to use cloth towels instead of paper ones.

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  Did you know that the less paper you use, the more trees you save?

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  We pledge to take showers instead of baths.

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  Did you know that you could save up to 66 gallons a week per person (or 40% of the water), by taking a shower instead of a bath? You can still have a good sing song!

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  We pledge to turn off the tap while brushing our teeth.

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  Did you know that could save six gallons of water a day?

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  We pledge to drink tap water instead of bottled water at home and in restaurants.

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  Did you know that you’ll not only save money, but also a fair few plastic bottles this way?

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  We pledge to switch off the car engine whenever it’s stopping for two minutes or more.

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  Did you know that you could save about 17% of unnecessary fuel is wasted by switching the engine off and then on every time the car is stationery?

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  We pledge to say ‘no’ to new plastic bags when offered them.

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  Did you know that plastic products are very difficult to break down? They get stuck in landfills and litter our beaches.

Pollution

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  We pledge to use environmentally friendly cleaning products in the kitchen.

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  Did you know that baking soda and vinegar can work just as well as harsh cleaning chemicals?

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  We pledge to try a meat free dish for dinner at least once a week.

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  Did you know that the way animals are reared for meat uses lots of fossil fuels and creates lots of CO2 – more than the car industry?

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  We pledge to make sure we place recyclable items in the correct bins.

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  Did you know that just by recycling plastics, glass and paper, you can help save the environment and reduce landfill?

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  We will look into buying or switching to a diesel car.

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  Did you know that diesel fuels produce far less harmful emissions than ordinary fuels? Diesel engines also last longer.

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  We pledge to cycle or walk, rather than drive to the shops.

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  Did you know cutting down on driving can save a lot of precious fossil fuels, and is good exercise too?

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  We pledge to avoid buying brand new clothes if we don’t really need them.

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  Did you know that many charity shops offer clothes that are in top condition? Help save the earth – and further their cause!

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  We pledge to only buy eco-friendly household products.

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  Did you know that many household products contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment when washed down the drain?

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  We pledge to plan our holiday without flying anywhere!

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  Did you know that travelling by road, rail or sea can save up to four times the amount of carbon emissions that are created through air travel?

Your own pledge