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It's the Little Things - Waste

Every Little Bit Helps - To Reduce Waste
Reducing waste is really all about limiting the amount of "trash" you send to a landfill as much as possible.  The first step is to be a conscience consumer.  Buy items with as little packaging as possible.  Also purchase reusable items instead of disposable ones.  The next step is to reuse items when you can or donate them to someone else who can use them. The final step is to recycle anything that you can't reuse.

What Makes It Green?
Limiting what we send to landfills is critical to keeping our planet clean and healthy.  There are about 1500 landfills in the U.S. and they are filling up fast.  As they fill up, we will have to use precious green space to create new ones.  Another consideration of our heavy use of landfills is the impact that leaks of methane and other toxic substances have on polluting our air, soil and water.  If we all are thoughtful about what we throw away, we can have a real impact on the environment.

What You Can Do
  • Buy items with as little packaging as possible.
  • Purchase items you use a lot in bulk.
  • Select "naked" fruits and vegetables instead of those that have been prepackaged.
  • Use reusable items instead of disposable whenever possible - here are just a few examples: utensils, napkins, razors, shopping bags, water bottles and coffee mugs.
  • Say "no thanks" when offered an ATM or credit card receipt (unless you need to file it as documentation of the purchased item).
  • Buy antique furniture and decorative items or give a garage sale or attic find new life with a coat of zero- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint.
  • Consider using reclaimed architectural pieces as artwork.
  • Join a Reuse Group a free network of people dedicated to helping people give away and receive unwanted items - check out www.freecycle.org, www.reuseitnetwork.org and www.swapmamas.com.
  • Donate unwanted, gently used items (like clothes, shoes, eye glasses, books and toys) to a local charity, reuse center (Goodwill or Salvation Army) or an organization that collects and distributes them to people in need.
  • Compost egg shells, coffee grinds, fruit/vegetable waste and yard/garden waste.
  • Consider using items that would normally go in the trash for creating artwork and crafts.
didyouknow
The EPA says if it's not captured, landfill methane becomes a greenhouse gas at least 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it rises into the atmosphere.

handson
We love Chinese food, but with 3 young children it's a challenge to eat in the restaurant.  I reuse the take out soup and rice containers for packing crackers, chips and fruit for lunches and picnics.  They protect the food from getting crushed and are easy to wash in the dishwasher.
 
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