Did you know? 17 million Canadians (nearly 2/3) have access to recycling.
1. REDUCE: Every person creates an average of 4.6 pounds of waste per day -- almost double the amount created 35 years ago. Reducing the amount and the toxicity of the waste is the preferable method of waste management. Reducing is easy! Buying bulk, purchasing longer-lasting products and demanding that manufacturers use less packaging for non-bulk items are simple ways of reducing waste.
Did you know? Since 1986, the average weight of soft drink cans has been reduced by 33 per cent and 2-litre plastic soft drink bottles went from 68 grams of plastic per bottle to 51 grams -- saving 250 million pounds of plastic per year.
2. REUSE: Before throwing household items away consider another use for them. For example, a scratched CD makes a great reflector. Get creative or donate items you no longer want to charity and community organizations. Reusing is a step above recycling because less waste all together is produced.
3. RECYCLE: According to the EPA, in 1999 recycling, including composting, diverted 64 million tons of material from landfills and incinerators. The benefits of recycling include conservation of resources, prevention of greenhouse emissions and other pollutants, saving energy, creating jobs, stimulating development of greener technologies and reducing need for landfills. Tip: Buy products that contain recycled materials.
4. Whether at home or in the office, use both sides of every sheet of paper and print double-sided copies instead of single.
5. Try to reuse every scrap of paper, even if it is written on before recycling it. You can even go one step further and buy writing pads that are made with recycled paper and cost a fraction of the price.
6. Buy fresh produce instead of canned. Buying loose or "bulk" is another way to reduce trash. Bulk refers to items that are loosely stored in large bins; purchase only the amount you need and scoop the product into a small plastic bag. Tip: Take a shopping bag to the supermarket.
7. Buy items that are going to last longer so you do not have to buy them as often. Yes, there will be some items that do not have a long shelf life but try to find items that do. Some packaging contains harsher chemicals than others.
8. Reuse as many products as possible in your own household. Plastic milk jugs make great pitchers for tea and water. Reusing also occurs when recyclables are turned into different products, such as asphalt for paving roads or new notebooks.
9. Be sure that your area has a recycling program and that you know which materials are accepted and then get the appropriate recycling containers. In some areas, plastics go into one container, paper goes into another container and glass goes into a separate container. All three containers, along with garbage that cannot be recycled, are picked up by the local sanitation or recycling program. As well, you can recycle your food waste products by starting a compost heap.
10. If possible, use a Blue Box to recover any recyclable items you have around the house and place it curbside for collection on your scheduled recycling date.
Did you know? Five recycled two-litre plastic bottles make enough fibrefill for a ski jacket.
11. Say good-bye to paper plates and plastic forks. Pack your lunch in reusable containers. Also, use a durable refillable mug or glass at school or work.
12. One big change you could make is to take a look at the things you throw out. Thrift stores will take old furniture, clothing, household items, toys, and accessories. Your community also may have a centre for collecting salvaged building materials such as old sinks, carpet, carpet pads, lumber, screen doors, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, paint and more. Certain charities will even take old cars, eye glasses, computers, and cellphones. Newspapers can be donated to the Humane Society.
Did you know? Each recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a television set for three hours.
13. To encourage employees to reduce waste, companies should upend the usual bin standards. Place a recycling container next to every desk and make the regular garbage can a communal receptacle.
Did you know? It takes one 35-foot tall tree to make a stack of paper six feet tall. Recycling approximately 1 ton of newspapers saves 17 trees.
14. Plastic is a synthetic material that is made from natural gas and oil. We use plastic in some form in our everyday life. A good majority of a household's garbage is made up of plastics. There are many different types of plastics. For example, a soda bottle is made from polyethylene terephthalate, or called PET or Code 1. These codes can be found by looking at the number in the chasing arrow recycle symbol. Milk jugs are made from high density polyethylene, or called HDPE or Code 2. These two types are the most commonly recycled plastics used to make new products. All plastics should be marked with a code. Even though plastics are marked doesn't mean they can be recycled. Most areas recycle plastics type 1 and 2 and some areas take other types as well.
Did you know? Most bottles and jars contain at least 25 per cent recycled glass. Glass can always be recycled; it never breaks down in the landfill.
15. Lastly, use rechargeable batteries. Life just got better!
Solutions is compiled from various sources: greenlivinganswers.com, 43things.com, associatedcontent.com, eswa.org, stltoday.com, wyoenergy.com, ecomall.com, louisvilleky.gov. Similar information may be found elsewhere.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio and television programs across Canada.
