ϲͼ

ϲͼ residents urged to “Buy Nothing New” during November

Published date

As November rolls in, ϲͼ County Council is gearing up to embrace Keep Britain Tidy’s initiative: “Buy Nothing New Month.”

This month-long campaign invites residents to break free from the cycle of consumerism, encouraging them to rethink spending habits and prioritise reuse, repurposing, and recycling over buying new.

The campaign encourages everyone to think about the impulse buying culture that often accompanies events such as ‘Black Friday’.

Instead, participants are urged to waste less, make the most of what they already own, and significantly reduce their carbon footprint by committing to buy nothing new throughout November, excluding only essential items like food and medicine.

Councillor Emma Stokes, Cabinet Member for the Environment at ϲͼ County Council, emphases the importance of this initiative, “If everyone on Earth lived like people in the UK, we would need over two and a half planets to regenerate and absorb our waste. Transitioning to a circular economy is essential, where we waste less and cherish the items we already possess. While recycling is a valuable practice, reducing consumption and reusing items is far more impactful. Our ‘Let’s Waste Less’ campaign offers a wealth of resources on how to minimise waste, repair, and reuse, and we encourage residents to explore these options as we approach the festive season.”

The previous “Buy Nothing New Month” campaign saw remarkable engagement, with 73% of participants successfully avoiding new purchases, 75% finding innovative ways to reuse or repurpose items, and 43% taking the initiative to repair or mend possessions.

Ready to take the plunge? For more information on the campaign, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org. For practical tips and advice on reducing waste, head over to