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DO Reduce!
All trash are scattered everywhere, reduce it right now, follow the simple rules, is it to put our trash in the proper bins, and not...
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You Can Recycle More Than You Think
You may have the basics of curbside recycling down. You put bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper in your bin; you avoid wish cycling; and you generally know what to throw. But there is more you can do! Recycle even more by adding another room to your recycling routine or utilizing drop-off locations for items that can’t be recycled curbside.
This, Not That
Don’t be afraid to ask for help on what you can recycle. There are resources available that will help you find the best way to dispose of almost any item. Or start adding more items to your recyclable list like glossy paper, toiletry boxes, laundry detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and cartons.
Know what to throw by remembering these tips:
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Recycle food and drink cartons. Don’t recycle food and drink pouches.
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Recycle paper. Don’t recycle paper soiled with food like napkins. Compost it!
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Recycle plastic egg cartons. Don’t recycle Styrofoam egg cartons.
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Recycle food and beverage bottles and jars. Don’t recycle drinking glasses.
The Winning Combination
Get the most out of your recycling program and make sure to keep wish cycling items out of your curbside bin. If your recycling cart is full by the time your pick-up day comes around, but your garbage can still has room in it, you should be proud of yourself. By ensuring that everything in your cart is recyclable and safe for facilities, you avoid the problems created by wish cycling like wasting time, money and creating more waste. Don’t forget that “not accepted in curbside bins” doesn’t mean “not recyclable.” Use drop-off locations for items that can’t be recycled curbside to bring your habits to the next level.
There, Not Here
Some items that cause problems for facilities are still recyclable via drop-off options and county facilities. Keep those items out of the garbage can and use recycling options instead. It’s worth the trip!
Did you know you can recycle these?
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Plastic Bags – Don’t put them in the recycling bin. They cause problems for recycling facilities. Use plastic film recyclingcollection boxes.
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Clothing and Textiles – Clothes can be donated. Some cities have curbside textile recycling or drop-off programs.
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Organics and Food Waste – There are curbside organics programs like those in Minneapolis as well as drop-off optionslike those in Ramsey County. You also can put those items to work by composting in your backyard.
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Mattresses – They are big and bulky, but ninety percent of a mattress is recyclable!
Some items may not seem recyclable because they are considered household hazardous waste, but county household hazardous waste drop-off sites can help keep them out of your garbage.
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Batteries – They may be small, but they can be a big problem for recycling machines. County facilities and retail outlets accept many types of batteries.
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Scrap Metal – It may be dangerous for workers and cause problems with machinery, but it has value if brought to a scrap yard or county facility
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Paint – Use a recycling option like a county drop-off site or a PaintCare retail location.
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Motor Oil and Oil Filters – Oil can be made into new oil products. Bring motor oil and filters to a county HHW site or seek a collection option at an automotive service center.
Here, There and Everywhere
Maximize your recycling efforts by recycling at home with your curbside bins, at work, out and about, and by bringing items to drop-off locations. Make recycling easy with signs when possible. Look for recycling options and ask for them if you don’t see them. <rethinkrecycling.com>
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Refuse
You know about the three Rs and how important they are. Reducing the amount of items we own and the amount of waste we create, means less stuff will end up in the garbage. Reusing what we can gives our items another life and keeps them out of the trash. Recycling takes a variety of materials and puts them to good use, helping the economy, creating jobs and manufacturing new products. You may have the mantra of “reduce, reuse and recycle” down, but there are more Rs you can add to your routine.
Just Say No
Refuse! Bringing a reusable shopping bag is a great way to cut down on how much you end up with. A big part of living a zero waste lifestyle is refusing what you do not need. What else can you refuse? Remove yourself from junk mail lists to cut down on paper.
Borrow, Don’t Buy
Be mindful of the life cycle of any item you purchase or acquire. Where did it come from and where will it end up? There are tons of options for borrowing and sharing to help reduce how much stuff you own. Choose to reuse as much as you can.
The sharing economy is bigger than ever. Access a wide variety of items and services only when you need them. If you need books, movies or magazines, visit your local library. You can even set up your own little free library in your neighborhood. Toys take up lots of space and are often non-recyclable. Try using a resource like the toy sharing library in Minneapolis or set up a hand-me-down network. Instead of giving gifts that someone won’t use or need, provide experiential gifts that create fun memories, not waste.
Choose to Fix-it
When things become worn or stop working, they often end up in the trash. By fixing and maintaining the items in our homes, we can keep them functioning longer. This way, you will have other options, like donation or resale, instead of adding them to the waste stream. Bring your items to county fix-it clinics for help or use online repair resources. You can even borrow the tools you need from local resources like the Minnesota Tool Library.
Donate
Extend the life-cycle of an item you may no longer need by selling or donating it. Networks like Nextdoor allow you to interact with other users in your neighborhood to communicate and exchange items and services. Craigslist and Facebook also have ways to sell your items and buy used items online. For safety’s sake, it’s recommended to only deal with people locally and use sanctioned exchange locations, like the swap spot in Hennepin County.
Review
By refusing and repairing, you make it much easier to reduce items you don’t need and reuse items you already have. Always look for more ways to reduce and keep working to create less waste and make sure your items are recycled as much as possible. Do a zero waste challenge or waste audit. Are there items you could do without? Commit to your decision to reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, refuse, and review by sharing your story. Be proud of your achievements! <rethinkrecycling.com>
Make Every Day Earth Day
Whether participating in a community clean-up event, attending an educational function or donating time or money to an environmental cause, people celebrate Earth Day in big ways every April. However, the best way to celebrate the earth is in small ways every day. This year, making a small change in your little corner of the world can produce a big impact.
One in a Billion
You can reduce, reuse and recycle your way to a greener life. The steps you take in your home contribute to a greater push to help the environment and the planet.A major campaign of the Earth Day Network is Billion Acts of Green, which depends on individuals doing their part to go green. If we all make little changes in our lives to go greener, our green acts will join billions of other acts from people around the world.
Live Less Toxic
Do you have hazardous products in your home? The answer is bound to be yes. Household hazardous waste can be found throughout your home. Many cleaning products, yard and garden chemicals, automobile fluids, aerosol cans, batteries, oil-based paint, electronics, and more all contain chemicals or components that are hazardous and have to be disposed of properly. Many hazardous chemicals can cause serious problems for you and the environment if not properly managed.
While you may not be able to get rid of all traces of household hazardous waste, you can certainly reduce the toxins in your home. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has great tips to reduce toxicity at home including identifying the hazards, recycling fluorescent lights, and reducing mercury and lead-based products.
Read, Reduce and Replace
Become a label reader when purchasing products for your home. Products in your cabinets with the words caution, warning, danger, or poison may contain hazardous materials. Reduce the number of toxic chemicals in your home by seeking out green alternatives or making your own cleaning solutions. Some cleaning products advertised as “green” or “natural” still contain many of the same ingredients. Look for labels like Green Seal Certified and Safer Choice that certify products are environmentally friendly. You also can look at the resources provided by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.They test household cleaners and chemicals and track their findings to help people find a less-toxic alternative.
If You Want Something Done Green, Do it Yourself
Green home cleaners contain products that are already in your home, like baking soda and white vinegar. They can be used for a variety of jobs around the house.There are several household products you can replace all together by making them yourself with natural ingredients. Hennepin County has a great Green Cleaning Recipe book that will help you create several effective and inexpensive solutions for everything from carpet stains and furniture scratches to oven cleaner and laundry detergent. These recipes will help you do more with less!
Get Rid of it the Green Way
Don’t put household hazardous waste in your recycling bins! These products have to be properly disposed of so they don’t cause problems for facilities or the environment. Bring them to your County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off sites. If you have questions about what is accepted, call your county. Safe management of household hazardous wasteincludes following instructions on proper storage, usage and safe disposal. Empty containers can usually be placed in the garbage. Spring cleaning and Earth Day are great times to think about reducing the number of hazardous chemicals in your home, reusing what you can, and safely getting rid of them. <rethinkrecycling.com>
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Admin
DO Reuse!
Instead of throwing your old things, you can reuse them in different ways. Be Creative!
Admin
Do Recycle!
Did you know that you can turn trash plastics like mineral water, etc in to a different one? You can make a vase out of a mineral bottled...
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