How to Reduce Waste & Recycling

Many people recycle to help the environment and reduce waste. The process of recycling, however, uses energy and isn't as environmentally friendly as not having to recycle an item in the first place. Look for creative ways to reduce your consumption of products that might find their way to a landfill. Individuals often find that the fewer material goods they own, the happier and more at peace they are. They also tend to save money on unnecessary purchases and reduce the amount of products and packaging they discard or recycle.

Things You'll Need

• Water purifier or filter
• Aluminum water bottle
• Cloth shopping bags

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Instructions

• 1

  Buy as few packaged products as possible. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables rather than frozen or canned, for example. Bring your own jars or plastic containers when buying bulk food items, such as rice, oatmeal, pasta and nuts.

• 2

  Purchase what you need and use what you purchase; just because an item is on sale or is the latest gadget doesn't mean you must have it. Avoid impulse purchases by waiting a week or two and then deciding if you truly need the item.

• 3

  Plan your meals in advance and purchase the food you will use to prepare your meals. Make a weekly meal planner as well as a shopping checklist. Eat leftovers the next day or freeze them for later use. Keep scraps out of the landfill and avoid wasting the resources needed to grow the food in the first place by buying only what you will eat.

• 4

  Replace disposable items with reusable items; for example, use cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers, ceramic or glass refrigerator dishes instead of disposable plastic storage containers and rechargeable batteries instead of standard batteries.

• 5

  Install a water purifier on your faucet or purchase a water pitcher with a filter. Purchase an aluminum water bottle and refill as necessary:

• 6

  Repair clothing with rips, snags and tears rather than throwing it out. Reupholster sofas, love seats and chairs instead of hauling them to the curb.

• 7

  Take reusable cloth bags with you when shopping. Reuse plastic bags as trash-can liners or "doggy-do" bags, or use them on your next shopping trip.

• 8

  Donate usable items --- including furniture, clothing, toys and books --- to charitable organizations or thrift stores rather than toss them in the garbage.

• 9

  Use both sides of the paper when printing and copying. Make notepads out of scrap pieces of paper or stationery. Purchase recycled paper products whenever possible.

• 10

  Wrap gifts in materials you have around the house --- such as handmade artwork, magazine covers and pages, comics, brightly colored bags, scarves, maps or fabric --- or reuse wrapping paper from gifts you've received.