If you are already faltering on your resolution to help the environment fear not - Croydon Council has named February as waste minimisation month to get you back on track.

In 2007, 111,000 tonnes of rubbish went into landfill in Croydon and with strict targets aimed at reducing that amount coming into effect in 2010, the council is taking action now to try and cut it down.

There are plenty of ways you can help reduce your waste, one of the most effective being reusing what you already have, which is also a good way to save money.

For example, you can fill plastic bottles with water to have with you every day rather than buying new ones, and you can reuse shopping bags every time you take a trip to the shops.

Councillor Phil Thomas, cabinet member for the environment and highways, urged the borough's residents to help the council meet the new targets.

He said: "We all need to take action to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill in Croydon. Recycling is brilliant but we can also cut down on the waste entering our homes.

"By doing small things such as joining the mail preference service to stop unwanted mail, or, if you are a parent of small children, using cloth nappies rather than disposable ones, we can help make a difference.

"It is truly shocking that as much as a third of the food we buy in the UK ends up being thrown away. If we can cut down on this waste, it would have the same impact as taking one in five cars off the road. Being more careful about how we eat makes sense for the environment but also for our pockets."

One website you can use to help reduce the food you throw out is lovefoodhatewaste.com, which offers advice on how not to cook too much food, leftover recipes from top chefs and tips on storing food properly.

There are also websites where you can give goods away and pick up bargains, including the council's Great Giveaway site,