Reuse & Reduce

A TO Z WASTE GUIDE:

Adapted from real Simple Magazine, September 2019 issue

Antiperspirant- Myro offers customizable deodorant in refillable containers (mymyro.com) or Toms of Maine offers a free Terracycle program 

Balloons- Never release a balloon into the air; they can be dangerous and harmful to birds and other animals. Opt for more earth friendly decor such as paper lanterns. 

Contacts- Don't use dailies, use monthlies and when you dispose of them, throw them in the trash, not the sink or toilet. We don't want any more plastics to be put into our water. You can always opt to wear glasses instead! 

Dental Floss- Use brands that use biodegradable silk floss rather than nylon such as Dental Lace. 

Energy- This is the most important resource to reduce and there's many ways to do so. Make sure your house is well insulated, turn your lights off when you don't need them and take shorter, cooler showers. You can install The Nest Leaming Thermostat-which allows you to control your thermostat from your phone as well as provides you with analytics which will help you reduce your energy use.

Foam Egg Cartons- Buy your eggs in cardboard cartons rather than foam. Cardboard can be recycled or composted whereas foam will live on forever. 

Gift Wrap- Use biodegradable gift wraps if possible or try to unwrap gifts carefully so you can reuse the wrapping paper. 

Home renovation supplies· Refinish and repair when possible. That old rocking chair you have that is a little beat up, refinish it rather than getting a new one or give it away to a reuse organization or charity. 

Phones/Phone cases -New phones come out every year and they all have different cases. Try to live with your phone as long as you can. Taking care of it and avoiding questionable websites can increase the lifespan of your phone, however if you really want the new iPhone 11, get a compostable case like from Pela and make sure you recycle your old phone! 

Junk Mail· Everybody gets junk mail, that one promo at the mall you signed up for three years ago keeps sending you mail every month. Most people just ignore it but it can add up to a lot of paper ·waste. To coW1ter this, you can download an app called PaperKarma that will help you limit junk mail. Just download the app for 2 bucks a month, enter your address and click unsubscribe. 

Keys- Keys can't be recycled at the curbside but you can scrap them. Bring them to a local recycling center and put them with the scrap metal. 

Laundry Detergent- Try plastic free pods like from Dropps. lf you stick with traditional detergent, use a normal plastic jug and clean it out after so it can be recycled. 

Makeup- Check Teracycle’s free programs and ask your makeup retailer if they take empty containers. Certain retailers may give you rewards for bringing back empty containers. 

Newspapers and Magazines- Use newspaper for streak free ·window cleaning and place a sheet in the bottom of your compost bin for easier clean up. Soggy Newspaper is good for composting. 

Oatmeal Canister - Remove any plastic parts and recycle or save for storage or crafts.

Paper Towels- Save stained or damaged clothes to cut up and use as washable rags. Switch to cloth napkins and hang on to paper napkins for when you really need them. You can compost paper towels (unless they were used on chemicals.) 

Q-Tip- It actually is not necessary to clean your ears at all. Your ears are self-cleaning, meaning earwax will ball up and fall out. In fact, you can actually damage your ears by sticking Q-tips in them. You can entirely eliminate Q-tips from your life! Cotton swaps are often used for makeup but you can try to substitute them with a clean pinkie or washable cotton swabs.

Razor- Most razors are plastic heavy and have a short life span. A pricey option is laser hair removal though most people can afford such procedures. A better option is to find a razor that has replaceable blades. These should be available at your local pharmacy.

Sponge- Try plastic-free sponges that you can compost or switch to dishcloths.

To-go cups- This one is easy. Just bring your own reusable cup. Keep one at work or in your car so you are always prepared. 

Utensils- Again, you can bring portable and reusable utensil kits with you. Most are very compact and easy to clean. Keep a set at work and use it for lunch.

Various Packaging Supplies- Recycle cardboard boxes and save bubble l\Tap for shipping, mo,1ng or storing of fragile items. Air cushions can be deflated and brought to plastic recycling events. You should also consider your local options; maybe you don't have to order something from online. 

Water- Conserving Water is a smart choice even if you aren't in a drought prone area. You can do this in many ways. Take short showers, shut the water off when brushing your teeth, run the dishwasher only when its full and refrain from washing each dish by hand, and consider unexpected sources of water such as an unfinished glass of water or pasta water and use it to water your plants. 

Expired sunscreen- See if your local hazardous waste collection accepts cosmetics. If not, find a large sealable bottle and fill "with all your expired liquids and gels until full and then throw it out regularly. 

Yogurt Cups - You can make your own yogurt! It is very simple to do or buy larger tubs of it and divide it up yourself. 

Zipper bags- Reuse baggies and drop off clean old ones at your grocer. Or buy a set of reusable freezer and dishwasher safe food storage bags