Waste Prevention and Reuse
Waste prevention means making less waste. When you buy less, you throw out less and pay less for disposal.
Tips
Use durable (reusable) items rather than disposable:
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Cups, dishes, flatware |
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Napkins, kitchen towels |
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Food containers, shopping bags, plastic bags |
Reduce packaging:
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Buy in bulk |
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Reuse packaging |
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Use newspaper for package filler |
Use less paper:
Reuse Unwanted Items
To reuse means:
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Repair rather than throw out damaged goods |
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Donate or sell useable but unwanted items |
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Reuse “single-use” items such as: |
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Plastic water bottles |
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Paper or plastic grocery bags |
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Paper or plastic cups |
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Resources for Residents
Find comprehensive waste reduction and recycling information at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/
How and why REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
US Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm
National Recycling Coalition
www.nrc-recycle.org/
Washington State Recycling Association
www.wsra.net/Education/Education.html
What do I do with ….? A list of organizations that recycle or reuse UNWANTED ITEMS
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wdidw/index.asp
www.grn.com/a/6000.html
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/exchange/index.asp
Recycle ELECTRONICS through the “Take it Back Network”
dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/takeitback
PURCHASE or SELL fixtures, cabinets, doors, hardware and wood floors and more
www.re-store.org/ballard.htm
PAINT and household CHEMICALS
www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/index.cfm
Sell or donate it
www.craigslist.com
www.freecycle.org
Conscious Consumer
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/ecoconsumer/index.asp
www.newdream.org/buy/
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wastefreeholidays/index.asp
www.recyclestuff.org/junkmail.asp
Calculate Your Waste
Waste calculator - www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/ecoconsumer/calculator.asp
Carbon footprint – www.greentagsusa.org/GreenTags/calculator_intro.cfm
Resources for teachers, teens and school-aged CHILDREN
www.epa.gov/kids/
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/teens.htm
www.earth911.org
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/pdfs/resource.pdf
Waste prevention CLIP ART
ww.ciwmb.ca.gov/gallery/wasteprev/wpclp1.htm
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/publications/clipart/index.htm
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