How to make money from recycling

This week the Government launches its review into how it plans to tackle the growing problem of waste. The latest figures from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show that more of us are recycling, but the UK still has the worst record in Europe.

For 2003/04 the proportion of household waste recycled in England was 18 per cent (for 2002/03 the figure was 14.5 per cent), but the Government wants us all to recycle 25 per cent of our rubbish by 2005/06, to cut back on the 510kg of waste we each produced last year and the 20.9 million tonnes sent to landfill.

Councils can be fined if recycling targets are not met, leaving us to foot the bill. But if the threat of higher taxation and climate change aren't enough to motivate us, perhaps the savings on offer will.

Water is precious andis likely to become increasingly expensive. You could cut the amount of water used by your toilet and reduce your bill with Interflush (£19.90; www.interflush.co.uk), which allows you to use only what you need when you flush.

The kit converts a standard, single-flushing WC siphon, where there is no control over the volume of water flushed, to an interruptible flushing siphon, which gives you control over the amount of water used.

A rain-harvesting system can also provide water for your toilets, washing machine and garden, potentially saving up to half of the water you use.

A cheap option recommended by Rainharvesting Systems (www.rainharvesting.co.uk; 0845 223 5430) is a large water butt with a pump, which fills with the rainwater that runs off the roof and can then be used in garden taps, toilets and washing machines. The company offers individual designs for homes and full instructions, which, it says, means a confident plumber could install the system.

The most appropriate system depends on the size of your property, local rainfall levels and individual needs. If your property is large, you might consider investing in a below-ground, fully automated potable system (£3,000-5,000).

A wind turbine could cut your electricity bill by up to 33 per cent, according to the British Wind Energy Association (www.bwea.com; 020 7689 1960). The BWEA points out, however, that while the wind is free, the means to extract the power from it is not.

Depending on your home, its location and your requirements, roof turbines cost between £1,000 and £8,000, including the costs of installation (planning fees are approximately £300). There will also be operation and maintenance costs, which means that serious consideration must be given to locating the turbine if you want to get the best performance from it.

Alison Hill, head of communications at BWEA, says: "There is growing interest from consumers and it's still possible to get a government grant to help with costs. The scheme is called Clear Skies, but this will change in the spring."

Householders can obtain grants of £400 to £5,000, but funds from Clear Skies (www.clear-skies.org) are almost exhausted and only applications received by post before 5pm on 3 March will be considered.

Small wind-energy installations require planning permission and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including neighbours, about environmental considerations, access to the site, noise and visual effect, but the BWEA says that planning policies support household projects.

On a smaller scale, wormeries can provide an efficient system for converting food waste into liquid feed and compost.

A wormery is a bin-like container divided up into a number of chambers, one of which houses live tiger worms. Drop your daily kitchen waste, such as peelings, food scraps, teabags, eggshells and even paper kitchen towels into the bin and the worms will convert it into plant feed and compost, which can be run out from a tap at the bottom.

Wormeries can cost as little as £30. At websites such as www.originalorganics.co.uk (01884 841515), you can find small wormeries suitable for flats with window boxes and larger ones for family homes with gardens.

Recycle more of your rubbish

You can recycle more than just paper, glass and aluminum. For example, use the Furniture Re-use Network (www.frn.org.uk) instead of hiring a van or paying your council to remove items such as sofas. The FRN will take serviceable furniture or appliances for free and give them to low-income families.

Next time you buy a new pair of glasses, ask your optician if they will take back your old pair for recycling. It is estimated that there are 200 million people in the developing world whose quality of life would be greatly improved if they owned a pair of glasses. Donating your old glasses is free, so you can help someone take an active part in work and community life without having to set up a new charity direct debit.

If your home or office is cluttered with music or computer CDs, remember that some councils accept CDs for recycling. Alternatively, if you can't recycle CDs locally, you can send them to polymer reprocessors for recycling (www.recyclenow.com).

Low cost routes to greener living

Reusing our resources and reducing our use of them can also - alongside alternative energy sources and recycling - cut waste and save money.

Junkk.com provides many examples of how to reuse items, and you can also share your ideas and buy or sell things you no longer want. It features A-Z lists of information about repair, reuse, and recycling (from battery recycling, book and tool swaps to green nappy services) and a facility where you can find services located within your postcode.

The Freecycle network is a grassroots recycling movement that has a website (www.freecycle.org) where people can exchange unwanted things for free. When members have something they no longer need, they send an e-mail and offer the item to people in their Freecycle group; they then view the responses and choose a new home for it. Those on the lookout for something respond to e-mails they like the sound of and, depending on the discretion of the person offering the item, are then invited to pick the item up for free.

There are dozens of Freecycle communities in the UK (each moderated by a volunteer), varying in size from thousands of people in London to a handful elsewhere.

If there is no community in your local area, you can start up your own.

Reduce and re-use tips

* Buy loose food rather than pre-packaged goods.

* Stop junk mail and faxes through the Mailing Preference Service (www.mpsonline.org.uk).

* Donate old magazines to doctors' waiting rooms.

* Use your own bags when visiting the supermarket.

* Take a packed lunch to work in a reusable plastic container.

* Reuse bags (each person in the UK uses an average of 134 plastic bags every year).

* Reuse envelopes by sticking labels over the address.

* Rent or borrow items you don't use very often, such as party decorations and crockery. Many supermarkets hire glasses for parties, which saves on disposable cups.

* Buy rechargeable items (say batteries and cameras) instead of disposable ones.

* Buy goods such as washing detergent in refillable containers.

Source: www.recycle-more.co.uk