Recycling

It might shock you to know that more than two-thirds of the materials we throw away as trash can be recycled.

You can produce less waste by practicing the 3 R's of waste management:

• REDUCE the amount of trash you throw away and the toxicity of it.
• REUSE containers and products, repair broken items, or give it to someone who can repair it.
• RECYCLE as much as possible - including buying products with recycled content.

Reduce

Waste prevention or "source reduction" means consuming less and throwing away less.

We can do this by purchasing durable, long lasting goods; seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxins as possible; and redesigning products to use less raw materials in production, have a longer life, or can be used again after its original use.

Source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management and goes a long way toward protecting the environment.

Reuse

Reusing items - by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them - also reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again.

Recycle

Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. It also increases awareness of the amount of waste we produce and gives us a great sense of collective responsibility as consumers.

Composting

Another form of recycling is composting. Composting is the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. Composting is nature's way of recycling organic waste into new soil, which can be used in vegetable and flower gardens, landscaping, and many other applications. Read more about Composting and Organic Waste.

Ways to Reuse

• Using durable coffee mugs.
• Using cloth napkins or towels.
• Refilling bottles.
• Donating old magazines or surplus equipment.
• Reusing boxes.
• Turning empty jars into containers for leftover food.
• Purchasing refillable pens and pencils.
• Participating in a paint collection and reuse program.

More ideas for Resourceful Reusing