Waste prevention
Sustainable living
› Waste prevention
Find tips and tools for reducing your waste.
Recycling is great. But reducing your waste in the first place is an even better way to put the lid on your trash and conserve resources. Get started with the following ideas. Chances are, you' ll think of many more ways to reduce and reuse.
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Tips to put a lid on trash
Not sure where to start? Follow these quick and easy tips to prevent waste:
- Avoid disposable items whenever possible.
- Choose durable quality items that can be used again and again and will last a long time. You will probably spend a lot less over time than replacing inferior, cheaply made goods that do not last very long.
- Use the blank sides of scrap paper for notes and lists before recycling the paper.
- Save plastic produce bags and paper or plastic grocery bags for reuse.
- Even better, get a permanent shopping bag. Get two!
- Buy in bulk: fewer shopping trips, less packaging, more product, lasts longer. Refill your own bags or containers instead of getting new ones each time you buy.
- Why buy bottled water? Get a reusable bottle and fill it with our very clean, tasty tap water. Oregonians purchased about 200 million bottles of water in 2005, 125 million were thrown in the garbage. (More from the Center for a New American Dream.)
- Pack lunches in reusable containers to reduce waste and save money.
- Look for less packaging, better yet look for none. Make sure packaging can be reused or recycled easily. In 2005, 20.5 percent of our garbage was packaging--a whopping 263,000 tons.
- Buy handmade and locally made or grown. There is usually a lot less packaging than products packaged and shipped from far away.
- Get a travel mug for your coffee and other beverages. Coffee shops usually give a 5 or 10-cent discount for bringing your own cup.
- Borrow books from the library or buy them used rather than purchasing them new.
- Repair, refurbish, recover instead of throwing away home furnishings, appliances and electronics. Support local repair business instead of disposing and buying foreign made goods.
- Donate items you can no longer use to a nonprofit group or thrift store.
- Purchase quality used items such as furniture, clothing, sports equipment, toys and books at second-hand stores, garage sales and through classified ads.
- Compost leaves and grass clippings in a home compost pile and kitchen scraps in a worm bin. Use the compost to improve your garden or feed house plants.
Related Links
Get everything you need to know about recycling and garbage and hazardous waste disposal in the Portland metropolitan area. Plus, learn how to keep your neighborhood clean.
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