Eco Tip
Reduce

The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on recycling.

Share With Friends: Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between friends and neighbors.

Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product – do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)?

Eco Tip
Reuse

The media has done a wonderful job of selling us on the attractiveness and benefits of buying “new”, “improved”, “special”, etc. products.

Reusables: Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.

Replace Plastic Bags: With reusable glass, ceramic, or metal storage containers.

Buy Durables: Buy products that will last and take care of them.

Rechargeable Batteries: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery recharger (some battery rechargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).

Eco Tip
Recycle

Recycle your Plastic Bottle Tops: Plastic bottle recycling can now handle recycling plastic bottle tops – keep the lids on. Better yet, switch to reusable glass or metal drinking bottles and skip the plastic bottles all together.

Recycle Bins: Create designated holding “bins” for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage.

Recycling Fact Sheet: If one isn’t available on your local recycling center’s website, create a local recycling sheet which includes hard to recycle items.

Recycling Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phones

Help Launch Sustainable Packaging!: As a customer, you have enormous power to help launch the sustainable packaging movement.

Green Paper: In general, try to buy products/containers made from recycled material as often as possible to support the recycled product market.

Eco Tip
Refuse

Refuse Products that Create Waste: If available, instead of buying processed food, bring your own bags and containers and buy from the bulk and produce sections of the grocery store. Minimize or eliminate other types of purchases that generate waste.

Avoid Single Use Products: Instead, choose (or bring) reusable products or consider doing without. Avoiding plastic single use items is especially important because of their toxic load and, if landfilled, exceptionally long life. These can include food and beverage containers, cups, plates, straws, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.

Refuse Give Away: When a business or individual offers you a free give away that you don’t need, politely refuse. This can be anything from a straw in a restaurant to promotional gifts to paper handouts. This not only saves the company or individual money, but it keeps resources from being consumed unnecessarily (even if it is recyclable)