'A few small changes' have helped a Newton Abbot family to cut their household waste by 93 per cent and win them £250 to spend on eco-friendly gadgets.
The Berry family from Buckland won Teignbridge Council's Starve Your Bin competition after they reduced the amount of rubbish going in the bin each week from 39.5kg to just 2.85kg.
They were one of three households selected to take part in the month-long trial, designed to raise awareness about environmental issues.
The dramatic reduction in the amount of waste produced by the family was the result of buying items such as meat in bulk and freezing what they didn't use.
They also froze leftovers and doubled up on efforts to recycle, particularly plastic bottles.
Mum Vanessa Berry said: 'We had several ideas about how to cut down on waste as this challenge started, including making better use of our food caddy and taking plastic bottles to local recycling facilities.
'Once it was under way, we kept finding new ways of reducing our waste and were struck by how simple it can be.
'I can't quite believe we've cut down by over 90 per cent, it just shows what you can do by making a few small changes to your habits.'
Mrs Berry said the £250 would be spent on upgrading the family freezer to an energy-efficient A-rated model.
The other families in the competition were just pipped to the post.
The Edwards from Kingsteignton reduced their waste by 84 per cent and the Pennys from East Ogwell by 82 per cent.
Between them they used real nappies instead of disposable ones, turned glass jars into storage containers, recycled more plastic and shopped in local butchers and grocers where less packaging is used.
The council's environment spokesman, Cllr Gordon Hook, said if everyone followed suit it could have a 'dramatic' effect on the amount of waste being dumped at landfill sites.
'I hope that this campaign will have helped raise awareness and that we can keep starving our bins on a permanent basis,' he said.
The campaign was the biggest green initiative undertaken by the council and was run in conjunction with the Mid-Devon Advertiser and Palm FM.
Among householders who pledged to starve their bin was Malcolm Rag of Tedburn St Mary.
Like everyone who signed up to the scheme he was entered into a draw and came out on top, winning an eco-kettle, wind-up solar radio and solar-powered phone charger for his efforts.