Reduce, Reuse and Donation

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: the three "R’s”. Most of us are familiar with Recycling, but what about the other two? Reduce and Reuse come before Recycle, and therefore should take priority.

If you are looking for "Reuse" options around town, take a look at this guide. It lists local businesses you can donate items to or where you can buy items second hand. 

  1. Reduce
  2. Reuse
  3. Donation

Reduce the amount of trash you produce at your house by buying groceries in bulk: 

Buying in bulk can mean two different things. One meaning of bulk is purchasing large quantities of goods upfront, but bulk also means buying items loose, like beans or spices from a Co-op. Both can save you money and help reduce packaging waste that ends up in your trashcan, and ultimately the landfill.

Buying items loose from a grocery store, or from the bulk aisle, allows you to buy just what you need for a recipe. This can be a fun way to try new foods and recipes. By bringing your own container to the grocery store, you can dramatically cut down on packaging waste. Call the store first to see if they allow you to bring your own container.

Find a Co-op near you.

Reducing the amount of packaging waste created in your home will result in less trash going into your trashcan every week. Call your hauler to see about reducing the size of your trashcan, or reducing your frequency of pickup, which will save you money.