HOW YOU CAN REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF WASTE YOU PRODUCE

With some planning, you can help decrease the amount of waste that will make its way into a landfill.  Here are a few examples:

When you shop, you should plan to bring home fewer materials that will end up in the trash.  You should:

• buy bulk-packaged items.
• buy products that aren't disposable.
• buy liquid products that are concentrated.
• buy products that are recyclable.
• buy products that are enclosed in reusable or recyclable containers.
• buy fruits and vegetables that are loose instead of in packages or cans.
• use canvas or material shopping bags instead of paper or plastic bags.

At home, work and school, you should:

• reuse items as many times as possible (plastic containers, bags, etc.).
• use mugs, glasses and tableware that are not made from paper or plastic.
• use a plastic or metal lunchbox instead of paper bags.
• collect your old magazines and books and donate them to local schools, hospitals or nursing homes.
• when leaving for vacation, cancel delivery of your paper or have it delivered to a local school or needy organization while you are gone.
• make note pads out of scrap paper.
• use both sides of paper for writing or copying.
• use cloth towels and napkins instead of paper.
• contact companies who send you unwanted mail and ask to be removed from their mailing lists.
• use e-mail whenever possible.
• donate unwanted clothing or appliances to charities.
• sell unwanted items at a community garage sale.
• use a canvas or material bag for carrying instead of paper or plastic bags.
• use plastic grocery bags for lining household trash cans instead of purchasing plastic trash can liners.

In your yard, you should:

• compost leaves and grass cuttings whenever possible.
• leave grass cuttings on the lawn or place them around the base of trees and bushes.
• place chopped up food waste in your vegetable garden and turn it into the soil.

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