MORE than four tonnes of rubbish was avoided last month thanks to more reusing, recycling and composting.

Waste Free Feb challenged people across Wiltshire to produce as little rubbish as possible for one month, and this year more than 300 people took part.

Organised by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the challenge to limit general waste tested people to either introduce or build up a low-waste lifestyle that could be continued in the long-term.

From starting a compost bin to avoiding black plastic and taking containers to refill in shops, participants adapted their living habits to stick to the waste-free goal.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s sustainability officer Jessica Thimbleby said: “We’re really pleased so many people got involved with Waste Free Feb and made changes that have had a big impact on how much waste they now throw away."

The trust added that a Wiltshire household currently produces around half a tonne of rubbish a year, so taking on the challenge can help the environment, as well as enabling less money to be spent on landfill tax.

Jessica added: "Thank you everyone for helping to save over four tonnes of rubbish – that’s equal to the weight of two and a half medium-sized cars! It just shows what a big difference we can all make by making small changes.”