Zero Waste at Home
Learn how to reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink at home.
Remember the three R's? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We're adding a fourth R - Rethink. It's also time to rethink the way we deal with waste by focusing on waste prevention through "upstream" actions such as conscious consumption and waste prevention.
Check out these incredible people who have gone the extra mile to be "zero waste":
The Zero Waste Home. An informative blog about one family's challenge to create no trash.
No Impact Man. A truly entertaining story, made into a film, that documents a "guilty New York liberal" whose goal is to practice what he preaches for one year.
Green Garbage Project. A Salem, Oregon family whose goal is to be garbage free from July 6, 2009 to July 5, 2010. See how they are doing!
How You Can Work Towards Zero Waste
Practicing Zero Waste at home doesn't have to be hard or take too much time. There are many resources here in our community that can help you reduce waste in your household.
Reduce. Also known as waste prevention or source reduction, it is the elimination of waste before it is created. It involves the design, manufacture, purchase or use of materials and products to reduce the amount or toxicity of what is thrown away.
Reuse. A time honored tradition of using things for multiple purposes or for the same thing over and over.
Recycle. The institutionalized way to reuse by harvesting natural resources from a product to make something new.
Home Composting. Perhaps the ultimate way to "close the loop" by turning organic waste into a great soil amendment right in your own backyard.
Composting Pick Up Services. Don't have the time or energy to compost at home? Your garbage hauler can likely help you out by picking up your yard debris and raw fruits and veggies.
Household Hazardous Waste. The substances found in your home that may be hazardous or toxic to humans or the environment.
Paint. Don't throw away that unused old paint!
