March 2023 – Own Your Impact

Waste Reduction

EIGHT WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

To me, Christmas feels like a month-long sugar rush. There's a constant buzz in the air from Black Friday to Christmas. There are constant advertisements promoting crazy-good deals on the perfect gift for [insert loved one] and a steady stream of shiny boxes under the tree that each have a shiny bow. Every sugar rush has a down side. It happens on Christmas morning. After all, the shiny boxes have been opened, and everything is in place, I find myself surrounded by new items next to a large pile of crumpled wrapping paper. While I am thankful for all the...

Waste Reduction

EIGHT WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE

Everyday decisions that we make have a significant impact on the environment. An average American generates 4.4 pounds of garbage per day. These tips will show you how to make small, sustainable changes that can have a lasting impact on the environment. 1. For beverages on the go, you can use a reusable cup/bottle. It is possible to have a reusable water container, but do you actually use it every day? It's possible to put your reusable water bottle to good use, reduce waste and save money. You can also bring your own water, which will reduce the likelihood of...

Recycling

HOW DO I RECYCLE?: COMMON RECYCLABLES

Paper/Cardboard The municipal solid waste (trash), generated annually by municipalities each year is 23 percent made up of paper, which is more than any other material. In 2018, Americans recycled 68 percent of the paper they used. Recycled paper can be used to create new paper products. This helps save trees and other natural resources. Many community and office recycling programs accept paper, as well as paper products. Before you place your paper in the bin, check with your local recycling program. When you shop, look for products made from recycled papers. Even better, think about whether you actually need to...

Recycling

20 RECYCLING TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE RECYCLING AT HOME

People all over the globe are eco-conscious and make recycling an integral part of their lives. We all use a lot of plastic bottles, cans, and other packagings every week. These items can be reused by following our recycling tips. Recycling is a simple way to help reduce pollution, climate change, and waste. The best part about following our recycling tips is using local facilities to ensure maximum recycling. You can even recycle your waste at home! This is called curbside recycling. You simply need to place the items in the correct recycle bin, and voila, you are recycling. Some...

Recycling

7 TIPS TO RECYCLE BETTER

Recycling is a regional business. Each city has its own rules. This makes it difficult for those who want to learn how to recycle properly. Recycling can be confusing. Jeffrey Raymond, chief of communications for Baltimore's Department of Public Works, says that there are many rules. "When communicating all this, it's important to strike a balance between making recycling easy for people and making it difficult enough that they won't recycle." Here are some recycling best practices: 1. No bags. No bags. Grocery bags can dissolve into potentially dangerous microplastics; ingestion or entanglement can harm and even kill. These bags...

Waste Reduction

WASTE PREVENTION AT HOME

This is a rough sketch of your plan of action to reduce waste generation. These are the easiest things you can do. These are just a few of many other things that you can do, but you will likely notice them if they become a regular part of your daily life. You can find Cal Recycle PSA pages that contain public service announcements (PSAs) on many of the topics discussed on this page. Also, see Back to School Waste Prevention. Reduce Reuse Substitute Reusable Products for Consumables Recycle Products Other Resource These ideas are ranked in order of importance by the waste management...

Recycling

RECYCLING BASICS FOR THE HOME

While home recycling takes very little time, it can significantly benefit the homeowner and the environment. Paper and cardboard Newspapers Newspapers should always be kept in their bin since this material is used for newsprint recycling. A four-foot stack newspaper can be recycled to save the equivalent of one 40-foot fir tree. Other Paper You can save magazines, glossy printed flyers, newspaper inserts, and phone books in one bin. You can use staples made of paper, but you should remove any rubber bands or wraps. You should not include carbon paper, stickers, or cardboard in your paper recycling. Plastic-Lined Drink...

Waste Reduction

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO REDUCING WASTE

The average American sends more than 1,000 lbs of household refuse each year to incinerators and landfills. Incinerators and landfills emit harmful toxins into the environment and destroy wildlife habitats. They also pose a serious threat to human health. The Implications of Municipal Solid Waste. Trash is also a wasteful of the natural resources, energy and labor used to make the items and materials. A 2014 study estimated that electronic waste was worth approximately $50 billion in precious metals, and other resources. We have the power to change this. There are many ways you can reduce your household waste. You can reduce your...

Household

10 THINGS YOU CAN RECYCLE OR REPURPOSE AROUND YOUR HOUSE

There are many creative and practical ways to recycle old items at home. Your home may actually be a treasure trove full of things you can reuse, recycle or repurpose. You can change the way you view things. You'll see everyday objects differently. How to Recycle Your Home These are the household products most cities include in their recycling program. If you don’t have a curbside pick-up, you can search your nearest recycle center via Google911. Paper, cards, junk mail, magazines, newspaper Brown paper bags and shoe boxes As long as the paper products are not embellished with glitter or other metallic...

Waste Reduction

16 WEIRD CLEANING TRICKS THAT’LL MAKE YOUR LIFE INFINITELY EASIER

Learn how to clean your home using everyday household items and a few clever tips and tricks. 1. Dust everything with a lint roller. Everybody should own a lint roll. Use a lint roll to clean your windowsills, lampshades, leather sofas, and other areas where dust can accumulate. A lint roller, unlike a feather duster which moves dust particles into the air and holds them on its super sticky surface, will hold them. This could prevent you from needing to vacuum after. 2. In no time, clean your blender. Blend 3 cups hot water with a few drops of liquid soap...