Tip 1
Know what can and cannot be recycled
In order for households to succeed in recycling they must be fully aware of what can and cannot be recycled. In King County there are many ways of finding out, but the easiest one is using King County Solid Waste “What do I do with… which is linked from here.
Tip 2
Know where to recycle materials
Knowing where to recycle materials is as important as knowing what is recyclable. Within King County’s recycling system there are many location where items may be recycled. There are also private businesses who also take recycled goods at many locations throughout this region. Each place excepts different materials with different charges, so knowing is key to being fully aware of your possibilities when it comes to recycling.
Tip 3
Buy Recycled
When buying products look for the ones that are made from recycled materials. When you buy products made from recycled materials, it helps sustain that market and it closes the loop on those materials. They are being put back into the production cycle rather than thrown into a landfill. By buying recycled paper there is a double bonus for the environment; trees are saved, which by being preserved will continue to sequester carbon, retain water and much more.
Tip 4
Use a reusable water bottle/coffee cup
Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour. This number is astronomical and is a waste. Bottled water is one of the biggest waste and misconceptions on the market today. Bottle water companies are less regulated than the water that comes out your faucet, which comes at the fraction of the cost. So, use a reusable water bottle, preferably one that does not contain things like phthalates or PCB’s. There is also a proliferation of coffee cup consumption, which does not need to happen. Coffee is cheaper when you use your own cup and if you are buying this every day, the savings can really add up. So using a reusable water bottle or coffee cup is a win – win for everyone.
Tip 5
Shop with reusable bags
We go to store for all of our needs; food, clothing and leisure and along with purchases comes plastic bags. Bringing your own bag is very beneficial to the environment because plastic bags will last a long time in the landfill or in the ocean. These bags break up into little pieces of plastic which birds then eat and feed to their young. Now, with the many designs out there having your own shopping bag can be cool and unique. One good thing to do, is always keep bags in your car so you are prepared for going to the store.
Tip 6
Remember the 3 R’s
Reduce, reuse and recycle is the triple threat to waste production and resource consumption. The three R’s are in order of the importance with waste reduction the being the first goal, but the only one we are really familiar with is the third R: recycle. The reduction of waste needs to be at the root of our decisions and our mantra when it comes to our purchases. Then reuse, both in donating what we don’t need anymore and in buying second hand goods. The three R’s are simple, but eloquent in the broad range of issues it addresses.
Tip 7
Anticipate waste
