Recycling isn't the only way to cut down on the amount of waste that
goes into our landfills. The first line of defense in solid waste management
should be waste prevention. We need to think carefully about what we
buy and how we use the variety of goods available to use as consumers.
As we look at our buying practices, we can find many ways to reduce
the amount of waste we generate before we create it. This is called
waste reduction or source reduction. (reducing waste at the source)
Waste reduction can be practiced at home, at work, in offices, in factories,
in schools - in all aspects of our lives.
Waste reduction saves money and energy, as well as landfill space. Following
are many ways to reduce your waste. As you look at your own habits,
you can probably come up with many more.
"Precycling" Shopping for Waste Prevention
- Buy only what you need and will use
- Buy durable, well-made products
- Buy in bulk, "economy size", and use concentrated products when appropriate
- Buy products with little or no packaging, i.e. loose produce. If you put fruit or vegetables into a plastic bag, reuse the bag.
- Buy beverages in refillable or returnable bottles, if available, and other products in reusable or recyclable containers or packaging.
- Keep a variety of sizes and types of bags in your car to use when you shop. Remembering to bring the bags into the store is a feat, at first, but, with practice, it becomes a habit. Use cloth or net tote bags.
- SMART Shopping(more tips for school kids);
- Freecycle ReUse/Exchange Program
- Throwplace
- Use reusable products, rather than disposables:
Diapers Tablecloths Sponge or Cloth Napkins Razors Rechargeable Batteries Plates or Cups Lighters Thermos Bottles
- Keep reusable cup or mug in your car and at the office
- Save and reuse storage items instead of getting new ones:
Carboard Boxes Gift Wrap Glass Jars Paper Bags Plastic Bags Cookie Tins Coffee Cans Plastic Containers Candy Jars
- Reuse styrene foam packing chips (styrofoam peanuts) or bring to
a local packing company
- Maintain and repair clothing, equipment, and other items
- Use hand-operated tools and appliances, whenever possible, to reduce
use of batteries and save electricity
- Give unwanted, usable items to friends or neighbors or donate to
charitable organizations. Look for Salvation Army box at your local
recycling center
- Borrow or rent items you seldom use (books, tools, etc.) Patronize
your local library
- For gifts, try doing things (babysitting, housekeeping, going out
to dinner or a movie) instead of buying things
- Compost yard waste and vegetable-based food scraps
- Avoid buying products containing hazardous materials. Use less toxic substitutes
Reducing Waste in Offices, Schools, & Industry
Using less paper is one of the main ways to easily reduce waste in an office or school setting.
- Use both sides of paper (saves money and prevents waste)
- Share documents and memos; set up central filing system
- Single space documents, adjust margins, avoid duplication on mailing lists
- Close the loop - buy recycled paper products
- Do a careful waste audit and participate in commercial/industrial waste exchange
- Use refillable tape dispensers, pens, & rechargeable batteries
- Buy or lease durable and reparable equipment
- Pack materials in reused or reusable packaging for shipping and encourage suppliers to do the same
- Stop unwanted junk mail
- Buy and use less toxic products
- Designing for durability to increase product life. Assure that your product has replaceable parts and can be easily repair
- Reduce toxicity in manufacturing process and/or product, wherever
possible
Reduce Unwanted Mail
Every year, your household receives an average of 84lbs (1.5 tress)
of unwanted mail, commonly referred to as JUNK or WASTE MAIL. And every
year, your name may be handed out to many other businesses or organizations.
There are three basic options to reduce the amount of unwanted mail
that comes into your house. To prevent your name from being added to
new mailing lists conact the two largest direct mail listing services:
| Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association PO Box 9008 Farmingdale, New York 11735-9008 |
List Service Department |
Include the following information for each member of your household or business:
- Complete name
- Common misspellings and variations of your name
- Complete address, with apartment numbers and zip code
State clearly, "TAKE US OFF ALL YOUR MAILING LISTS."
To remove your name from specific mailing lists on which it already
appears: Repeat mailers will take you off their list if you let each
firm know you no longer wish to receive their mailings. To do this,
send back their business reply card or write a note stating, "PLEASE
TAKE US OFF ALL YOUR MAILING LISTS." Enclosed this in their self-addressed
envelope, or call their toll-free number (usually listed somewhere in
the catalogue, magazine, or mailing). If you write "Refused, Return
to Sender" on an unopened envelope, it will not get back to the mailer.
The Postal Service will discard it.
To prevent mailers from renting or trading your name or stop duplicate
mailings: Use the envelope or post-card included in mailing or call
the toll-free number. Tell them, "PLEASE DO NOT RENT OR TRADE MY NAME"
or "STOP DUPLICATE MAILINGS." Let the sender know whether or not you
wish to remain active on their mailing list.
