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Reduce Tips
Ways to Reduce
Learn more at the National Institute of Environmental Health and Safety
- Avoid using plastic store bags. When you buy one or two items at a store, carry them out in your hands; or take a reusable bag with you to carry the items you buy. Remember to take your old plastic and paper bags back to the grocery store for reuse or recycling.
- Use durable goods longer. Durable goods are sturdy things like furniture or household appliances that can (and should) be used for many years. You can save money and reduce waste by keeping these items for as long as possible and repairing them when they break, rather than buying new ones.
- Use durable items rather than disposable items whenever possible. For example, select reusable razors rather than the disposable ones and when entertaining or serving meals, avoid using disposable plates, cups, and napkins.
- Say NO to junk mail! Call toll-free numbers in unwanted catalogs and ask to be removed from mailing lists (see http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/). Whenever possible, use the Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogs, stock reports and other information that usually comes to your house in a paper format.
- Start a garden. Food that you grow yourself does not have to be "processed" or "packaged", and no fossil fuels are needed to get it to the store and then to your house.
Learn more at the National Institute of Environmental Health and Safety
