Reduce/reuse/recycle

Practice the three R's: first reduce how much you use, then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. Read the tips below and explore the Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/catbook

• Reduce:
  • Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
  • Buy and use only what you need.
  • Buy products with less packaging.
  • Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.
• Reuse:
  • Repair items as much as possible.
  • Use durable coffee mugs.
  • Use cloth napkins or towels.
  • Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
  • Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
  • Reuse boxes.
  • Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
  • Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. For information on handling household solid waste, visit http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/citizens.htm.
  • Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
  • Reuse grocery bags as trash bags.
• Recycle:
  • Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
  • Recycle electronics. More information is at http://www.epa.gov/ecycling/index.htm or http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/eCycling.htm
  • Recycle used motor oil (read an EPA brochure in PDF format; 750K; epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/recycle/recy-oil.pdf).
  • Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
  • Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. That's what makes recycling economically possible. Learn more at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/buyrec.htm