Many of the items that you throw away this week come from items purchased at the shops last week. Being a smart shopper can make a large difference to the amount of waste in household rubbish each week, but also to the cost of your food bill. Smart shopping means making smarter choices about the products you purchase as often money is spent on items only to have much of it disposed of to landfill.

Today, items such as disposable razors and single use products are readily available. It is often cheaper to buy a new item to replace a broken one than it is to fix it. Excess packaging is also a major problem. Products are often over packaged to exaggerate the actual size of the items inside.

Most people have heard of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’. However, the most important part of being a smart shopper is to RETHINK!

Five Questions Every Smart Shopper Should Ask Themselves

1. Do I need this product? 
2. Can I buy the same product with less packaging? 
3. Is the material in the package reusable? 
4. Is the material in the package recyclable? 
5. How will I dispose of the packaging?

By asking yourself these questions, you will become more aware of exactly what you are spending your money on and can easily alter the amount of ‘waste’ you are purchasing. Making informed decisions about products can go a long way to reducing both the amount of household waste and the cost of your weekly food bill.

Tips for Becoming a Smart Shopper 

• Ask yourself the 5 Smart Shopper questions 
• Take your own bags – reuse plastic bags or use enviro bags 
• Write out a list and stick to it! 
• Avoid items with excess packaging 
• Buy in bulk and avoid mini or snack sized items 
• Buy concentrates or refillable items 
• Choose reusable over one use items

Being a smart shopper is an essential step towards waste minimisation. Taking responsibility and making informed, educated decisions about how to manage waste is an important skill that can make a huge difference.