Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduse, Reuse, Recycle
Recycling Programs
There are thousands of municipal and private recycling programs in the U.S. and they can vary a lot from place to place, so don't assume what your local program will take. If you aren't sure, do a web search and just plug in the name of your town along with the word "recycling guidelines." The top one or two hits should produce links for a guide to your town's recycling requirements.
Some retailers also offer recycling programs for products from coffee pods to dog food bags to deodorant containers. To learn more about the ins and outs of what's recyclable, what's not — and why, check out this NPR interactive.
Another very important tip, Harrison says, is to keep plastic bags of all kinds out of your recycling bin. "They tangle up the equipment in a recycling process, and they cause the whole system to shut down."
But take heart, conscientious recycler, because plastic bags and wraps, like the ones around toilet paper and paper towels, can be taken back to most major grocery stores and box stores for recycling. Just look for the drop-off bin near the front of the store.There are thousands of municipal and private recycling programs in the U.S. and they can vary a lot from place to place, so don't assume what your local program will take. If you aren't sure, do a web search and just plug in the name of your town along with the word "recycling guidelines." The top one or two hits should produce links for a guide to your town's recycling requirements.
Some retailers also offer recycling programs for products from coffee pods to dog food bags to deodorant containers. To learn more about the ins and outs of what's recyclable, what's not — and why, check out this NPR interactive.
Another very important tip, Harrison says, is to keep plastic bags of all kinds out of your recycling bin. "They tangle up the equipment in a recycling process, and they cause the whole system to shut down."
But take heart, conscientious recycler, because plastic bags and wraps, like the ones around toilet paper and paper towels, can be taken back to most major grocery stores and box stores for recycling. Just look for the drop-off bin near the front of the store.There are thousands of municipal and private recycling programs in the U.S. and they can vary a lot from place to place, so don't assume what your local program will take. If you aren't sure, do a web search and just plug in the name of your town along with the word "recycling guidelines." The top one or two hits should produce links for a guide to your town's recycling requirements.
Some retailers also offer recycling programs for products from coffee pods to dog food bags to deodorant containers. To learn more about the ins and outs of what's recyclable, what's not — and why, check out this NPR interactive.
Another very important tip, Harrison says, is to keep plastic bags of all kinds out of your recycling bin. "They tangle up the equipment in a recycling process, and they cause the whole system to shut down."
But take heart, conscientious recycler, because plastic bags and wraps, like the ones around toilet paper and paper towels, can be taken back to most major grocery stores and box stores for recycling. Just look for the drop-off bin near the front of the store.There are thousands of municipal and private recycling programs in the U.S. and they can vary a lot from place to place, so don't assume what your local program will take. If you aren't sure, do a web search and just plug in the name of your town along with the word "recycling guidelines." The top one or two hits should produce links for a guide to your town's recycling requirements.
How to Recycle
NOT ACCEPTED IN CURBSIDE RECYCLING
Light bulbs
Yard waste or food
Electronics
Aluminum pie plates and food containers
Hazardous waste
Window glass, mirrors, drinking glasses
Hardback books
Picnic ware- plastic cutlery, plates, napkins, etc.
Scrap metal and car parts
Recycle
The recycling industry is a job creation industry. In the United States alone, the recycling industry creates over one million jobs. Recycling also reduces the need for mining, one of the most dangerous jobs.
Recycling conserves timber, water and mineral resources for future generations. That means our children and our grandchildren (most people don't really think past these levels of future generations).
Wars are fought over resources; recycling reduces the need for belligerence about resources and helps to show that there is enough to share around with what we already have (coupled with a reduction in consumption).
Many recycled products use far less energy to be recycled than it takes for the raw product to be created. For example, recycling aluminum requires 95 percent less energy than making it from raw materials. Recycled steel saves 60 percent of energy, recycled newspaper 40 percent and recycled glass 40 percent. Such savings all outweigh the results of incineration and landfill.
Reduce
Ways to Reduce Wasted Food
Planning, prepping, and storing food can help your household waste less food. Below are some tips to help you do just that:
Planning Tips
By simply making a list with weekly meals in mind, you can save money and time and eat healthier food. If you buy no more than what you expect to use, you will be more likely to keep it fresh and use it all.
Keep a running list of meals and their ingredients that your household already enjoys. That way, you can easily choose, shop for and prepare meals.
Make your shopping list based on how many meals you’ll eat at home. Will you eat out this week? How often?
Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and buy only the things needed for those meals.
Include quantities on your shopping list noting how many meals you’ll make with each item to avoid overbuying. For example: salad greens - enough for two lunches.
Look in your refrigerator and cupboards first to avoid buying food you already have, make a list each week of what needs to be used up and plan upcoming meals around it.
Buy only what you need and will use. Buying in bulk only saves money if you are able to use the food before it spoils.
Storage Tips
It is easy to overbuy or forget about fresh fruits and vegetables. Store fruits and vegetables for maximum freshness; they’ll taste better and last longer, helping you to eat more of them.
Find out how to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer inside or outside your refrigerator.
Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits and vegetables - especially abundant seasonal produce.
Many fruits give off natural gases as they ripen, making other nearby produce spoil faster. Store bananas, apples, and tomatoes by themselves, and store fruits and vegetables in different bins.
Wait to wash berries until you want to eat them to prevent mold.
If you like to eat fruit at room temperature, but it should be stored in the refrigerator for maximum freshness, take what you’ll eat for the day out of the refrigerator in the morning.
Reuse
Benefits of Reusing
Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials
Saves energy
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change
Helps sustain the environment for future generations
Saves money
Reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators
Allows products to be used to their fullest extent
Ideas on How to Reduce and Reuse
Buy used. You can find everything from clothes to building materials at specialized reuse centers and consignment shops. Often, used items are less expensive and just as good as new.
Buy reusable over disposable items. Look for items that can be reused; the little things can add up. For example, you can bring your own silverware and cup to work, rather than using disposable items.
Maintain and repair products, like clothing, tires and appliances, so that they won't have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently.
Borrow, rent or share items that are used infrequently, like party decorations, tools or furniture.
Donation
One person's trash is another person's treasure. Instead of discarding unwanted appliances, tools or clothes, try selling or donating them. Not only will you be reducing waste, you'll be helping others. Local churches, community centers, thrift stores, schools and nonprofit organizations may accept a variety of donated items, including used books, working electronics and unneeded furniture.