Reducing Waste Tips

Tips to Reduce Waste

• Reduce paper waste by stopping unwanted junk mail and phone books.
• Print double-sided and learn other ways to save paper.
• Bring your own reusable bags, containers, and coffee mugs when you shop.
• Rent equipment or share items through lending libraries.
• Buying items in bulk reduce the amount of packaging trash. Another alternative is choosing products with little or no packaging.
• Use a reusable lunch box or bag instead of a paper bag to carry your lunch. You won't have to throw away a paper bag every day.
• Go paperless with your monthly bills. Ask billing companies to email you your monthly bills. Once they're paid, scan and save them on your computer. Shred/recycle the bill. Use a detached hard drive to back up your files for security.
• Take reusable shopping bags with you to the store.
• When you make a purchase, don't take a bag unless you need one.
• Rent items you use infrequently rather than purchasing them.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
• Use a sponge or a cloth rag instead of paper towels.
• Use reusable plastic/glass/metal containers for food instead of plastic bags.
• Use plates, cups, and utensils you can wash instead of disposable ones.
• Purchase items in concentrate (such as juice and detergent) when possible.
• Choose products in recyclable or refillable containers.
• Avoid buying food items in single-serve packaging.
• Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Rechargeable batteries are great for gaming systems and portable electronics. This will also save money by not having to purchase additional batteries.

For More Information
For more information on how you can reduce waste at home, including junk mail, holiday waste and yard/garden waste, please visit California's Waste Prevention and Recycling at Home website.