This requires very little effort and costs nothing at all. What it does require is a little thought. Grocery shopping can be a pain in the backside, particularly when you live in a big city.

As a result, many of us rely on convenience foods. But while they save us time, the real cost is in the waste left behind. In the year 2001, households in the UK produced the equivalent weight of 245 jumbo jets per week in packaging waste alone.

And it’s not just convenience foods. Fruit and vegetables are notoriously over-packaged. And how many of us buy our sandwiches pre-made (and plastic-packaged) for lunch?

It’s great to recycle, but it’s even better not to create waste in the first place.

Here are a few things you can do:

Buy your fruit and vegetables from the market. Take your own bags and buy produce individually rather than pre-packaged.

Think about where your food comes from. Why buy strawberries from Chile when you can buy them locally? If your produce has flown further than you, don’t buy it!

Make your own lunch. If you’re lazy like me, you could keep ingredients in your desk drawer and make up your sandwiches at lunch time.

Wanting is a different thing from needing. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

Climate change is inevitably leading us towards a hotter world. It is therefore unlikely that we will need less electricity in the future. The more electricity we use to keep cool in the summer, the more carbon we release into the atmosphere. In order to keep cool, we might just end up cooking our planet.

One way to minimise carbon emissions is to switch to a green electricity provider. They work by taking the money you spend on electricity and reinvesting it in renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power.

Going green couldn’t be easier. You can switch online in less than ten minutes. It might even save you some money. Check out the Energylinx website to see just how easy it is.

Anyone who drives in the city knows just how expensive and stressful it can be. So unless you have to, why would you bother? You can get around almost everywhere by bike or bus. You’ll get to know your area a lot better if you bike and it may even save you time - bikes don’t tend to get stuck in traffic jams.

Walking is a great option for shorter distances, particularly in the summer. It gets you fit, saves you money and the only thing it pollutes is your shoes.

This is such an easy thing to do, with long-lasting results. Currently, the number of batteries being recycled in the UK is very low – less than 2 per cent.

The chemicals found in batteries varies from type to type, but most contain heavy metals. When not disposed of correctly, these metals can leak into the ground, causing soil and water pollution and endangering wildlife.

You can pick up a battery charger and rechargeable batteries for as little at £15. Think about how much money that will save you in the long term. But make sure you dispose of the rechargeable batteries correctly when they have reached the end of their lifespan.

Did you know that around 38 per cent of household waste is made up of organic matter? Unfortunately, most of this waste goes in the bin, and then into landfills, where it is unable to break down and return to the earth.

Composting is nature’s oldest waste disposal mechanism. It is also an excellent natural conditioner for gardens. Setting up a system is easier than you might think. The Composting Association can tell you every thing you need to know about getting started.

Some councils also provide a pick up service for green waste. Check with your local borough to see if there is service near you.

It’s better to do something, than nothing at all

As Kermit sang, 'it’s not easy being green'.

No one is perfect, but small things can make a difference, particularly if everyone does them!