Waste Reduction Tips

Reduce waste. The best way to reduce waste is not to create it in the first place. When waste is prevented, there is no need or cost for its collection, processing and disposal. There are many ways to reduce what individuals might generate!

Related resources:

• Christmas tree recycling

Unwanted Mail

Even before the holidays arrive, many households have begun receiving a rush of catalogs. Before placing the unwanted ones in the recycling bin, take a minute to remove your name from the company’s mailing list. Often a simple call to a toll-free number can ensure removal of your name.

• how to get off mailing lists managed by the Direct Marketing Association and its member companies.
• online tools for reducing unwanted mail from the Center for a New American Dream

Shopping

• When buying gifts to be mailed, select items that are easy to ship and won’t require excess packaging.

• Take reusable shopping bags from home instead of using paper or plastic shopping bags.

• Consolidate all purchases into one bag, rather than getting a new bag for each item.  Ask for a bag only if necessary.

• Shop for gifts at antique stores or estate sales--one person’s trash is another’s treasure.  Donate unwanted gifts, along with last year’s gifts that the kids have outgrown, to charity.

Wrapping

• Items that need to be shipped can be wrapped in brown paper bags from grocery stores.

• Some boxes are attractive enough that they don’t need wrapping.  Simply add a bow or reusable ribbon.

• When giving oversized gifts like bicycles or CD racks, just tie a bow around them.

• Try wrapping just the box top of items, rather than the entire box.

• Sunday comics or outdated maps also make unique gift wraps.  Use reusable gift bags or cloth bags.  Reuse wrapping paper—have scissors handy when opening gifts so that paper doesn’t get damaged when tearing off tape. 

• Make the wrap a part of the gift: put cookies in a flower pot or hide jewelry in a new pair of gloves.

• Reuse packing cartons and shipping materials such as peanuts, shredded newspaper, and bubble wrap. Donate excess peanuts to local mailing centers.

• Think of giving gifts that don’t have to be wrapped at all: tickets to concerts, museums, sporting events, gift certificates or gift cards, and house plants.

Entertaining

• Don’t throw out any leftovers after a party.  Send them home with guests in reusable containers.

• Holiday cooking generates some containers that are not acceptable for recycling in the blue bins.  Some of these containers are good for saving leftovers, so send them home with guests, store them in the refrigerator, or put them in the freezer for later.

• Rent dishes, glassware, table cloths and cloth napkins instead of using disposable items.

• Have the children make creative decorations out of things around the house or yard, such as pinecones, leaves, etc.

• Collection Services
  
  
• How to recycle/dispose of...
• Apartment/Condominum Recycling Program (TRRAC)
• Non-Residential Recycling Program (SORRT)
• Recycling Volunteer Program
• "Behind the Scenes" Course