| Attempt
to reduce the amount of material you use that
requires landfill disposal. |
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| 1. Reduce the amount
of unnecessary packaging |
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Choose products
with the least amount of packaging.
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Remember that wrenches,
screwdrivers and other hardware are often
available in loose bins.
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At the grocery store,
purchase items such as tomatoes and mushrooms
in unpackaged containers.
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Consider large or
economy-size items for household products
that are used frequently.
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Whenever possible,
select grocery, hardware and household items
that are available in bulk.
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| 2.
Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity |
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Take actions that
use non-hazardous or less hazardous components
to accomplish the task at hand (i.e. chose
reduced mercury batteries or plant marigolds
in the garden to ward off certain pests rather
then using pesticides).
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Learn alternatives
to household items containing hazardous substances.
In some cases, products that you have around
the house can be used to do the same job as
products with hazardous components. Below
are source reduction alternatives around your
house: |
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Drain Cleaner - Use a plunger
or plumber's snake. |
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Oven Cleaner - Clean spills
as soon as the oven cools using steel wool
and baking soda; for tough stains, add salt
(do not use this method in self-cleaning or
continuous-cleaning ovens). |
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Glass Cleaner - Mix 1 tablespoon
of vinegar or lemon juice in 1 quart of water.
Spray on and use newspaper to wipe dry. |
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Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Use
a toilet brush and baking soda or vinegar
(this will clean but not disinfect) |
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Furniture Polish - Mix 1
teaspoon of lemon juice in 1 pint of mineral
or vegetable oil, and wipe furniture. |
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Rug Deodorizer - Deodorize
dry carpets by sprinkling liberally with baking
soda. Wait at least 15 minutes and vacuum.
Repeat if necessary. |
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Silver Polish - Boil 2 to
3 inches of water in a shallow pan with 1
teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda
and a sheet of aluminum foil. Totally
submerge silver and boil for 2 to 3 more minutes. Wipe
away tarnish. Repeat if necessary.
(Do not use this method on antique silver
knives. The blade will separate from
the handle) Another alternative is to
use nonabrasive tooth paste. |
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Plant Sprays - Wipe leaves
with mild soap and water; rinse. |
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Mothballs - Use Cedar chips,
lavender flowers, rosemary, mint or white
peppercorns |
| PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT mix anything with
a commercial cleaning agent. |
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If you do store a homemade
mixture, make sure it is properly labeled
and do not store it in a container that
could be mistaken for a food or beverage. |
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When preparing alternatives,
mix only what is needed for the job at
hand and mix them in clean, reusable containers.
This avoids waste and the need to store
any cleaning mixture. |
| If you need to use
products with hazardous components, use only
the amounts needed. Leftover materials can
be shared with friends and neighbors. |
3.
Be Creative - Find New Ways to Reduce Waste
Quantity and Toxicity
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Turn a giant cardboard
box into a child's playhouse.
Transform an ice
cream tub into a flower pot.
Give pet hamsters
or gerbils paper towel and toile paper cardboard
tubes with which to play.
Use an egg carton
to plant seedlings.
Place an order through
the mail with a group of people in order to
save money and reduce packaging waste.
Choose beverages
such as water or milk in reusable containers,
where appropriate.
Attempt to reuse as much
as possible.
1.
Consider Reusable Products
-
Look for items that
are available in refillable containers.
When possible, use
rechargeable batteries.
Cloth napkins, sponges
or dishcloths can be used around the house
and washed over and over.
A sturdy mug or
cup can be washed and used time and again.
When using single-use
items, remember to take only what is needed.
2.
Maintain and Repair Durable Products
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Keep appliances
in good working order.
Mend clothes instead
of throwing them away
.
Consider using low-energy
fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent
- they will last longer.
Use high quality
long lasting tires for cars, bicycles and
other vehicles - using them reduces the rate
at which tires are replaced and disposed of.
3.
Reuse Bags, Containers and Other Items
Reuse paper and
plastic bags and twist ties.
Reuse scrap paper
and envelopes.
Reuse newspaper,
boxes, packaging peanuts and bubble wrap to
ship packages.
Wash and reuse empty
glass and plastic jars, milks jugs, coffee
cans, dairy tubs and other similar items that
otherwise get thrown out.
Turn used lumber
into birdhouse, mailboxes, compost bins or
other woodworking projects.
CAUTION
- Never reuse containers that originally
held products such as motor oil or pesticides.
These containers and their potentially harmful
residues should be discarded.
4.
Borrow, Rent or Share Items Used Infrequently
Rent or borrow party
decorations and supplies such as tables, chairs,
centerpieces, linens and dishes.
Rent or borrow seldom
used audiovisual equipment.
Rent or borrow tools
such as ladders, chain saws, floor buffers,
rug cleaners and garden tillers.
Share newspapers
and magazines with others to extend the lives
of these items and reduce the generation of
waste paper.
5.
Sell or Donate Goods Instead of Throwing Them
Out
Donate or resell
items to thrift
stores or other organizations in need.
Sell secondhand
items at fairs, bazaars, swap meets and garage
sales.
Give hand-me-down
clothes to family members, neighbors or the
needy. Consider acquiring used clothing at
thrift stores.
Consider conduction
a food or clothing drive to help others.
Use
recycled materials and compost
1.
Choose Recyclable Products and Containers and
Recycle Them
Participate in community
recycling drives, curbside programs and drop-off
collections.
If a recycling program
does not exist in your community, participate
in establishing one.
Consider products
made of materials that are collected for recycling
locally, in many. communities, this includes
glass, aluminum, steel, some paper and cardboard
and certain plastics.
As more business
and organizations provide collection opportunities,
take advantage of them. For example, many
grocery stores collect bags for recycling.
2.
Select Products Made from Recycled Materials
Use products with
recycled content whenever you can.
Look for items in
packages and containers made of recycled materials.
When checking products
for recycled content, look for a statement
that recycled materials were used and, if
possible, choose the item with the largest
percentage of recycled content, if known.
Encourage state
and local governments agencies, local business
and others to purchase recycled products such
as paper, refine oil and retread tires.
3.
Compost
Yard Trimmings and Some Food Scraps
Learn
how to compost food scraps and yard trimmings.
Participate
in local or regional programs that collect
compost materials.
If
you have a yard, allow mown grass clippings
to remain on the lawn to decompose and return
nutrients back to the soil, rather than bagging
and disposing of them.
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