recycle and collect waste

We should all be aware by now of the three Rs of a green environment: REDUCE how much you use. REUSE what you can. RECYCLE the rest.

The fourth and most important R is: REFUSE to buy disposable or single use items. We all know where they end up. Opt instead to buy good quality, long lasting products. If necessary, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally safe way possible.

Reduce:

• Buy and consume only what is necessary.
• Buy long lasting products instead of disposables.
• Buy products with less packaging.
• Buy products that don’t contain toxic chemicals.

 
Reuse:

• Buy only refillable pens and pencils.
• Repair rather than discard items.
• Use cloth napkins and towels, not paper.
• Reuse plastic bottles and cardboard boxes.
• Use durable coffee mugs, not styrofoam or plastic.
• Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
• Use jars to store leftover food instead of plastic boxes, ziploc bags or plastic wrap
• Participate in a collection point and reuse program.

 
Recycle:

• Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
• Recycle electronics.
• Recycle motor oil.
• Compost food scraps, grass, dead plants and other yard clippings.
• Close the loop by buying recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. It’s what makes recycling economically viable.

 
Refuse:

• Disposable razors.
• Over-packaged cosmetics.
• Cheap plastic and inflatable toys.
• Cheaply made school and office supplies.
• Products with plastic giveaways attached.
• Choose your own fruit and veggies at stores. Refuse the ones with styrofoam trays.
• Single-use drink pouches. It’s better to buy hard plastic or glass as they do get recycled.
• If you cannot resist fastfood, refuse the packaging. You need the food, not the trash left over!