1. Plastic bags - reduce, reuse and recycle!

According to the excellent CAT magazine, Clean Slate, the UK uses eight billion plastic bags a year and 93% of those end up in the bin. If we stopped using plastic bags completely we could reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by about 155 thousand tonnes per year. Ireland reduced the number of plastic bags being used by 90% by imposing a 15 cent (10p) tax. We have no such tax in the UK - yet - but there are easy ways to do your bit:

- buy a heavy duty bag (ideally made from recycled plastic) to take to the supermarket with you

- reuse any bags that you do have; take them back to the supermarket and pack your shopping in them

- recycle bags once you've finished them; supermarkets often have recycling facilities specifically for plastic bags

2. Compost your vegetable waste

Food waste in landfill turns into methane, carbon dioxide and a putrid liquid that combines with toxic waste to pollute rivers and ground water. When composted at home, food waste can produce soil, carbon dioxide (one-twentieth as potent a greenhouse gas as methane) and water.

Your council may offer free or discounted compost bins to help you get started.

More information: The composting association

3. Recycle all your glass

British Glass reports that we use over 6 billion glass containers each year in the UK, equating to over 2 million tonnes. In 1998 we recycled 22% of these containers - the European average is 50%, with some countries recycling over 80%. There are 22,000 bottle bank sites in the UK. Many of these are at sites that you probably visit anyway (such as supermarkets) so get into the habit of taking used glass and other recyclable items with you when you visit them.

What tips do you have for people looking to lead a greener life? Use our comments page to have your say.