Recycling plays a valuable role in living sustainably, but using less and reusing what we already have do even more to keep waste down. Bringing any new product into the world takes many steps.
Raw materials have to be mined or harvested, shipped, and then manufactured into the finished item, which consumes resources and releases greenhouse gases along the way. Industry, which makes the goods and raw materials people rely on every day, produces nearly a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
When we reduce and reuse, fewer new products need to be made, which conserves resources and cuts pollution.
Try these practical tips to reduce, reuse and recycle at home and help protect the environment:
- Bring reusable bags to the store so fewer plastic shopping bags end up buried in the landfill. Many grocery stores also have bins where used plastic bags can be dropped off for proper recycling.
- Choose products with as little packaging as you can. Less packaging means fewer raw materials used and less trash to bury.
- Give things you no longer need a second life. Worn-out clothes make good cleaning rags, and old food containers work well as plant pots.
- Look for products made with recycled content; the label usually says so.
- Compost your food scraps. Composting turns organic waste into rich soil you can use in the garden. Learn more on the composting and gardening page.
- Make sure an item is recyclable before it goes in the bin. These materials are generally accepted:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum cans
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles and tubs (check the recycling symbol first, because some plastics are not accepted)
- Keep recyclables clean and dry, since dirty items contaminate the rest of the load.
- These items do not belong in your recycling:
- Plastic film and wrap
- Plastic grocery bags
- Foam cups, trays and packing material
- Cups with a wax or plastic coating
- Review the city's curbside recycling guidelines.
- Household hazardous waste, meaning any product that should not go in the trash or down the drain, needs special handling because many of them can poison, ignite or corrode, which puts the environment at risk. Learn about the city's household hazardous waste program.
- Electronics need proper disposal too. Fredville residents can drop off electronics for recycling at the Fredville Landfill or bring them to free electronics recycling events held at City Hall.
- National battery and electronics take-back programs can help you find other drop-off locations.
- Explore fun at-home activities that teach kids about reducing, reusing and recycling.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.