Waste Reduction Tips
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
While recycling is part of the solution for preserving landfill space
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the best option is to prevent or
reduce the amount of waste that is generated in the first place.Reuse
also plays an important role in keeping material out of landfills by ensuring
that a product has been used to its fullest extent before disposal or
recycling. And it creates new markets for materials, new jobs, and opportunities
for vocational training. But even the best waste reducers and reusers
will be left with items that have reached the end of their usable life.
Here's how you can do your best to reduce, reuse, and recycle those items
that are not usually recyclable in your home or business recycling bins.
Reduce Packaging
Approximately one-third of the garbage we generate is packaging that
is thrown away immediately after we purchase merchandise. While it's true
that some packaging is necessary for health, safety, shelf-life and theft
considerations, many manufacturers over-package their products. This excess
packaging costs consumers more money; costs our environment more resources
and energy; and uses valuable landfill space.
So take a little extra care before you buy. Look for an alternative product
without packaging or the least amount of packaging to send a message to
manufacturers that you don't like waste. Also, avoid single-serving items
that are overly packaged. Ask local vendors to avoid using excessive packaging.
When it makes sense, buy in bulk. You will avoid over-packaging and save
money, since larger quantities are generally discounted. Try these alternatives
next time you shop:
- Large box of cereal vs. individually wrapped snack pack of mini boxes
of cereal
- Pudding mixes in recyclable boxes vs. pre-made pudding packs with
individual servings that are stored in non-recyclable plastic cups
- Fresh vegetables bought by the pound vs. vegetables in shrink-wrap
or in clamshell containers
- 1-gallon water jugs vs. 6-pack of individual 12-ounce plastic bottles
- Soup in recyclable cans vs. microwavable single-portion soups
Unwanted Mail
Eliminating unwanted mail is another way to reduce waste. Roughly 35 million
trees are cut down every year to produce mail that people don't even want.
To be removed from national mailing lists, call 1-212-768-7277 or send
your name, name variations and address to:
Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service
P.O. BOX 643
Carmel, NY 10512-0643
You can also stop unsolicited catalogs from being delivered to your mailbox.
Fill out an online questionnaire and stop the delivery of unwanted catalogs.
Click here to get started: http://www.catalogchoice.org
Plastic Bags
When asked the question "Paper or plastic?". . .why not bring
your own reusable cloth shopping bags instead. Using a reusable cloth
bag when going shopping at any store will help divert tons of unnecessary
paper and plastic bags produced and disposed of everyday in landfills.
Cloth bags also hold a lot more, so there are fewer trips back and forth
from the car and the cloth carrying handles are more comfortable on your
hands than paper or plastic handles. You can also reuse the thin plastic
bags available in the produce section, or skip them altogether if you
bring your own reusable cotton mesh produce sacks. Some stores even give
a small discount when you bring reusable cloth bags or reuse old shopping
bags to carry out your new purchases.
If you buy just one or two items, try going without a bag altogether.
The store pays for its bags, which means so do you, and in the end, so
does the environment. And don't forget to recycle your old plastic bags.
Most grocery stores are required to have a bin for recycling clean plastic
bags. Any type of clean thin film plastic or plastic bags (no stickers
or food residue) can be recycled in these bins.
Many dry cleaners will also take back their plastic clothes bags. When
you get home and hang up your clothes, keep the plastic covers and recycle
them on your next trip to the dry cleaners - rather than throw them away.
Some stores will also reuse clean hangers.
Reusable Product Alternatives
In addition to selecting products that use less packaging, look for
products that are durable or readily recyclable in your community. When
buying a product, stop and think, "Can this item be recycled or reused?"
If not, is there an alternative brand or product that you can buy? By
making these choices, you are using your purchasing power to reward manufacturers
that make durable, recyclable and reusable products, not
products that are only disposable.
Try these alternatives:
- Use washable cloths instead of throwaway wipes
- Buy rechargeable batteries
- Buy cloth napkins that you can wash instead of paper you throw away
- Buy washable plates and cups for picnics instead of disposables
- Buy razors with replaceable blades
- Use reusable containers with lids instead of aluminum foil and plastic
bags or wrap
- Rinse plastic bags and reuse them
- Buy a refillable water bottle instead of single use plastic bottles
- When dining out:
- Bring your own containers to the restaurant to take home leftovers
- Ask the restaurant to leave out plastic utensils when getting
take out if you'll be eating it at home
- Bring your own refillable mug to the coffee shop
- Skip the plastic lid and straw on cups when possible
Try these workplace alternatives:
- Bring re-usable dishware to work and eliminate the use of disposable
Styrofoam, plastic or paper plates and cups or plastic utensils.
- Make sure all printers have double-sided set as the default.
- Print drafts of documents on the backside of used paper.
Cloth Diapers
A study done in 1999/2000 showed that 19,740 tons of diapers are buried
in local landfills each year. Using cloth diapers is a great way to keep
waste of out the landfill.
For information on diapering options, including links to cloth diapering
web pages, visit CalRecycle.
Donate, Exchange, or Sell
Give new life to your old things by donating, exchanging, or selling them.
- Visit bargainlink.com or
check the yellow pages to find thrift stores or charities that will
take your donated items.
- Donate or purchase local used building materials:
Architectural Salvage (Specializes in vintage and eclectic one-of-a-kind
items)
2401 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-1313
ReStore (Accepts and sells new and used building materials/supplies)
10222 San Diego Mission Road
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 516-5267
www.sdhfh.org/restore.php
- Buy used books, CDs, DVDs, and video games or trade them at an online
exchange such as swaptree.com, paperbackswap.com, swapacd.com, or swapadvd.com.
You can even start your own exchange at work or with your neighbors
or church.
- Sell your used items by advertising in the local paper or online at
craigslist.com.
- Give away or get free stuff using freecycle.org.
Styrofoam
Expanded polystyrene, more commonly known as "Styrofoam," is
widely used for product packaging. Packing "peanuts" are the
most common form of expanded polystyrene; providing soft cushioning for
fragile items. While packing peanuts may be great for our packaging needs,
they are not good for the environment. When disposed in landfills, polystyrene
will not degrade.
You can help, though. When packing items for shipping, use shredded paper
or crumpled newspaper instead of packing peanuts or bubble wrap. If you
receive a package that contains packing peanuts, many shipping stores
will take them for reuse. Below is a list of online store locators to
find the nearest shipping store.
Remember to call ahead for any specific instructions that may apply.
(Most stores will not reuse molded polystyrene.)
Store locator links:
For more information:
All other forms of Styrofoam can be recycled at Cactus Recycling. Bring
in clean Styrofoam food boxes and any other Styrofoam packing material,
excluding packing "peanuts." For more information contact Cactus
Recycling at 619-661-1283.
#5 Plastic and Brita Water Filters
Many foods such as yogurt, hummus, sour cream, and other food products
are sold in #5 plastic tubs which are not recycled in many communities.
The Preserve Gimme 5 recycling program will accept not only these #5 plastics,
but will also take Brita water filters too. By participating in this program
you are saving plastic from being sent to landfills, keeping the plastic
local by recycling it here in the USA, and helping to transform your recyclables
into new products.
#5 plastics can be can be mailed in or recycled at some Whole Foods stores.
Visit the Preserve Gimme 5 website for more information about what material
is accepted, which Whole Foods stores participate in collection, or where
to send your shipments to.
Athletic Shoes
Nike's environmental and community program Reuse-A-Shoe creates basketball
courts and soccer fields with your old sneakers. Any brand of athletic
shoe is accepted. Please do not send any cleats, dress shoes or shoes
that are wet or that contain any metal. Take your shoes to any Nike Store.
Fashion Valley Nike Store
7007 Friars Rd., Suite 770
San Diego, CA 92108 US
(619)294-9385 |
Viejas Outlet Center Nike Clearance Store
5005 Willows Rd., Suite H102
Alpine, CA 91901 US
(619)659-3460 |
Las Americas Outlet Nike Factory Store
4445 Camino De La Plaza, Suite P-350
San Ysidro, CA 92173
(619)428-8849 |
Or send shoes to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070 |
Baby Gear
Baby gear that is in good condition can be donated to a local thrift
store so that another family can make use of it. If you have gear that
is not suitable for reuse, BabyEarth offers recycling for strollers, car
seats, swings, jumpers, high chairs, diaper bags. You can save money on
the shipping costs by recycling the metal components at a local recycling
center and shipping the remaining parts that can't be recycled locally.
The products are disassembled and the plastic, metal, foam, and fabric
are recycled. Products can be shipped to:
BabyEarth
RENEW Recycling Program
21 Cypress Blvd Ste. 1120
Round Rock, Texas 78665
Wine Corks
Wine and champagne corks can be recycled into new cork products.Yemm
& Hart collects and recycles old corks into new cork tiles. The company
also manufactures a variety of recycled building products.
Send your corks to:
Wine Cork Recycling
Yemm & Hart Ltd
610 South Chamber Dr.
Fredericktown, MO 63645
Yemm & Hart ONLY accept natural cork stoppers. Please do not send
stoppers made from plastic or any other non-cork materials.
Buy Products Made of Recycled Materials
No recycling program is truly successful unless the recyclables collected
are transformed into marketable products and then purchased by you! To
create a demand for recycled products, make sure to purchase paper (computer,
stationery, legal, white, envelopes and newspaper) that contains recycled
content. Ask store managers to stock products made with recycled materials
and write to the manufacturers of the products you buy and tell them you
prefer that they use recycled materials.
When shopping, buy those items that say, "Made from recycled materials"
and have the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. (Post-consumer
content means any material that the public has already used or recycled.)
California law requires that any consumer good labeled "Recycled"
must contain at least 10% post-consumer content. The City of San Diego
also has an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy
(EP3), which provides environmentally friendly suggestions and other
product recommendations.
Thanks to today's technology and manufacturing, recycled-content products
are high quality and attractive. Look for these recycled-content items
for your home or business:
- Clothing and shoes
- Children's toys and playground equipment
- Garden tools
- Carpet and carpet pads
- Plastic lumber for planters, decks and benches
- Motor oil
- Floors and countertops
- Rain gutters
- Packaging materials
- Paper products like tissue and towels
- Cleaning supplies
- Writing or computer paper and envelopes
Your choices and efforts can make a significant difference in the success
of San Diego and our nation's recycling programs!
Redemption Centers
Many supermarkets sponsor Redemption Centers that will buy back California
Redemption Value (CRV) containers for recycling and may accept other materials
like steel cans, glass jars and newspapers. Some stores have reverse vending
machines, which give you money back as CRV containers are fed into them.
The City of San Diego Recycling
Guide (PDF: 953K) provides a list of redemption centers including
the material each location will accept.
Recycled Greeting Cards Program
An alternative to recycling greeting cards is to donate them to the St.
Judes Ranch for Children's Recycled Cards Program. They will take pieces
from the donated cards and make new cards for others to enjoy.
Send your cards to:
St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005
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