Recycling is great but reducing the amount of waste you produce in the first place is even better!
Dorset Council’s Zero Waste Map shows places that help you reduce, reuse and recycle. On the map you can find your nearest waste free shop, repair café, reusable nappy retailer, community fridge, social supermarket and food bank.
We will continue to update and add other categories so, if you know of another retailer or group, let us know by emailing us.
Waste Free shops
Waste free shops sell a wide range of loose commodities so you can take your own container and refill it. These include groceries, laundry liquids and toiletries. They also sell a host of other products that don’t need packaging, such as solid shampoo bars, as well as items that replace disposables.
Repair cafés
Repair cafés are free meeting places for repairing things, such as clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, toys, etc. Visitors bring their broken items from home to a repair café and, together with skilled volunteers, make their repairs.
Reusable nappy retailers
Reusable nappies are modern washable nappies that can reduce nappy bills, as well as significantly reduce waste. Dorset Council offers £30 towards the cost of purchasing reusable nappies or a free reusable nappy starter pack.
Milk refill vending machines
Milk refill vending machines pour fresh milk straight into your own bottle, or you can use one of the reusable glass bottles sold by the supplier. The milk comes from a local dairy and some refill vending machines also offer flavoured milkshakes.
Community fridges
Community fridges allow people and businesses to drop off unwanted or surplus food and others can pick it up for free.
Social supermarkets
Social supermarkets sell food at heavily discounted prices. You may need to prove eligibility to become a member. You can also support social supermarkets with food donations.
Food banks
Food banks provide emergency food parcels to people in need. You can support food banks by giving donations of food.
Library of things
Borrow a wide range of donated tools and other household items such as:
- pressure washers
- carpet shampoo cleaners
- mowers
- rotavators
- dehumidifiers
- sound systems
for a small fee, so you don't need to buy them and store at home.
Vape recycling collection points
Save precious resources by taking vapes to your local vape recycling collection point.
You can also find your nearest Household Recycling Centre or recycling bank.
Other ways to reuse
Here are some other reuse options:
• online local groups where people give and take items for free: Freegle, Freecycle and Olio
• buy and sell preloved items: Vinted, Thrift+, Ebay and Gumtree
• rent designer outfits for special occasions: My Wardrobe HQ and John Lewis fashion rental
• buy and donate at charity shops