Tips on How to Eliminate Waste

Everyday, mountains of used plastic consumer products and packaging

head to landfills, wasting the materials and energy that created them. Many of us recycle our plastic

containers at curbside and although this is important, an even better effort is to reduce the amount of plastics we buy and to reuse the items we do buy. Reducing and reusing can divert millions of tons of

garbage from landfills every year. We offer the tips below to inspire

you to reduce, reuse, and trim

plastic from your life.

Reduce and Eliminate

Initial actions you might take:

❑ Refill your household containers

❑ Bring your own cup or thermos

when purchasing beverages away

from home.

❑ Avoid plastic by buying in glass

or metal whenever possible.

❑ Look for items with little or no

packaging.

❑ Avoid individually wrapped

portions (cheese slices, juice boxes,

etc.)

❑ Bring your own containers and

bags to stores and refill or reuse

them.

❑ Purchase items in containers that

can be refilled.

❑ Eliminate packaging by buying in

bulk and large containers.

Take these next steps:

❑ Drink filtered tap water. Fill your

own bottles with water, eliminate

waste, and save money.

❑ Buy used items - electronics,

furniture, clothing, bikes, household

items.

❑ Use reusable tableware, plates,

and cloth napkins when hosting a

party.

❑ Refill toner cartridges, pens, and

other office supplies.

❑ Avoid disposable products:

bags, plastic utensils, razors, pens,

lighters, batteries.

❑ Urge your grocery store to carry

products in bulk, or those that have

reduced or recycled packaging.

❑ Ask your nursery if they’ll take

back plastic plant pots.

❑ Choose long-lasting metal or

wood toys and products rather than

plastic.

❑ Rent items that will only be used

a short time. See if your community

has a tool lending library.

❑ Complete the loop by buying

products made with recycled

materials, such as recycled paper

and glass.

❑ Contact the manufacturer of

products whose packaging isn’t

recyclable and ask them to choose

better packaging.