Smart
Shopping and Reducing Waste
Precycling
Precycling means making purchasing decisions, which will reduce waste.
This can cut your household garbage by as much as 20%! Use the following
guidelines to help you make your purchasing decisions. You can reduce
waste by making environmentally smart decisions when you shop…That’s
PRECYCLING.
Avoid Excess Packaging
The cost of the package is included in the price of each product, so
you are paying for it. Look for the product with the least packaging,
or you’re just throwing money away! Buy in bulk instead of the
individually packaged items. You can also reduce waste by bringing your
own bags, jars or containers when you go shopping, so you can buy in
bulk whenever possible. Also, kick the junk mail habit. When mail ordering
items, ask that your name be kept off lists sold to other mail-order
companies.
Use Durable
Products
Bring a shopping bag with you to tote your groceries home; keep a coffee
cup in your car so you won’t have to throw away a take-out cup.
Cloth diapers, towels, and napkins are less expensive to use than disposable
ones, and you don’t have to throw them away. Look for high-quality
goods that are made to last a long time. They may cost you a little
more now, but they’ll save you money and protect the environment
in the long run. Pack your lunch in reusable containers and use a reusable
lunch box or bag.
Share What
You Can
Some items, like tools, sports equipment, and party supplies, could
be shared among you and your family, friends, and neighbors or rented
for special occasions. If you have items you don’t need, donate
them to a charity or give them to a friend. Shop at yard sales and second-hand
stores for furniture, appliances and other items.
Reuse, Repair,
Restore
Try to make the things you own last. Instead of buying new, repair the
old. The Yellow Pages lists repair services. Find new uses for items
you might otherwise throw away. Make it a personal goal to keep as much
as possible out of the garbage can!
Less
Toxic
Make it clean, simple, and safe. Reduce your hazardous household products,
and use safe alternative products. More information and recipes for
alternatives to household hazardous
waste.
Buy Recycled and Recyclable Products
When you purchase products made from recycled materials, you close the
recycling loop. Some products are labeled “Made from recycled
material”. Look for aluminum cans or glass bottles, or recycled
paperboard containers, which are usually grey or brown on the inside.
Retreaded tires, re-refined motor oil, certain paper products, and cardboard
egg cartons are other examples or recycled products. By purchasing items
in recyclable containers, you ensure that you won’t have to discard
their packages. Avoid multiple-material packages, like disposable juice
packs, that can’t be reused or recycled easily.
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Look for and
purchase products containing recycled materials. Look for the recycle
symbol |
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Ask
store managers to stock more recycled products. |
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Write
to manufacturers and packagers. Tell them you want to see more recycled
materials in their products. |
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Example
products: kitty litter made from recycled newspapers, paper towels
made from recycled paper, glass jars made from recycled glass, clothing
made from recycled pop bottles, pens & pencils made from old
blue jeans and plastic, and much much more. |
Recycling
Definitions
Post-consumer – made with recycled material that came from
a community recycling program. One-hundred percent post-consumer is
the ultimate in recycling!
Pre-consumer
– made with recycled material that came from leftovers in the
manufacturing process.
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