Reduce Waste

 

• Ditch the paper towels and napkins. The paper industry is the number-one consumer of fresh water and the number-one industrial cause of deforestation. Do your part by using cloth napkins, dishtowels and sponges in the kitchen and dining room
• Recycle your Christmas tree instead of dumping it
• Compost (let it rot)
• Leave grass clippings on lawn
• Bring a "no garbage" lunch to work or school, using reusable containers, bags, and a thermos
• Reuse empty containers to refrigerate leftovers, pack lunch food, keep buttons, or store hardware in the shop
• Look for a reusable coffee filter to replace disposable filters
• Use refillables in lotions, soaps, and cleaning products. Take a re-usable bag shopping

This formula was developed by Stanford University and helps residents and businesses understand the impact of recycling:

For Every Paper Ton Recycled the Following Resources are Conserved:

Trees 17
Gallons of Water 7000
Pounds of Air Pollution 60
kW Hours of Electricty 4100
Cubic Yards of Landfill Space 3.3

• Look for products with high levels of post-consumer materials
• Buy products in packaging that can be recycled locally
• Use reusable furnace and air conditioner filters