Reduce Waste at Home

Waste prevention is actually a simple concept.  It means not creating the waste in the first place. A good example of waste prevention is purchasing things that have little or no packaging. Or becoming a "paperless" office to reduce or eliminate paper use. The cool thing about waste prevention is that it almost always saves you money in the long run.

Think about the waste that is created in your home. Perhaps it is a lot of food packaging or junk mail. Now think about how to minimize those things.  Here are a few ideas:

• Utilize The Green Spot for local, sustainable businesses. Buying locally typically involves less packaging and materials for shipping. Many of the businesses are careful about their waste and strive towards less packaging.
• Choose durable quality items that can be used again and again and will last a long time. You will probably spend a lot less money over the long haul, rather than constantly replacing inferior, cheaply made goods that do not last very long.
  
• BYOB. Bring your own bag to the grocery store or other businesses. Many places now offer small discounts for customers who bring their own bags.
• Go for durable and reusable instead of single use. Commuter coffee mugs and durable water bottles are great examples.
  
• Rent, borrow and share! How often do you use that one power sander? Consider renting things like tools, equipment, even cars. Avid reader? Visit the ultimate borrowing place - the library!
• Let companies know how you feel about their packaging, good or bad.
  
• Repair, refurbish and recover. You may be surprised at what you can have repaired for less. Shoes, clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, and much more!
  

For more information, Email us or call 541-385-6908 x14.