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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This version was saved 13 years, 7 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by Gardener
on August 15, 2010 at 10:36:22 am
 

 

Reduce

Simplify your life. Make energy conservation a routine part of your life. Conserve our natural resources for generations to come. Read the Climate Change page to find out how.

 

The Story of Stuff - 20 min., fast-paced, fact-filled, online video looks at underside of our production and consumption patterns. Think before you buy. Do you really need the item? Be creative. Improvise. What else could you use? If you still need the item, could you buy it used? When you finish using the item what will happen to it? Help reduce landfill waste. The average American generates 4.4 lbs. of waste each day, nearly double the waste we generated in 1960. Think about the cradle to cradle cost of all purchases, detailed in William McDonough's book Cradle to Cradle. Try to purchase items with limited packaging. Waste prevention is also known as source reduction. See the EPA site for further details. When you do purchase items buy durable goods that may be recycled or composted.

 

The National Geographic Society's The Green Guide: Plastic Containers provides information on which plastics to use and which to avoid:

  • Briefly, glass, ceramic, stoneware, and stainless steel are still the best options.  
  • Only buy #2, #4, and #5 plastic containers if you need plastic. Most research has shown no leaching of any carcinogens or endocrine disruptors in #2, #4, and #5.  
  • Avoid #3 as it is made of PVC which contains vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. PVC production and incineration releases dioxins, another carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Avoid #6, polystyrene, which may leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen. Avoid #7, usually made of polycarbonate, which may leach BPA into liquids and foods. To avoid exposure to toxic chemicals do NOT reheat anything in plastic; use glass containers. Read The Green Guide PDF for details.
  • Although #1 PETE is one of the most commonly recycled types, there are no containers designed for re-use made from it, and one should avoid re-using single-use #1 plastic bottles because their design does not lend itself to proper cleaning and the bottles can harbor bacterial growth. (Note:Wide mouth #1 jars may be washed and reused for hardware storage.)

 

Further information about BPA, Bisphenol-A, at Penn State Live:1.12.09  Probing question: Is plastic dangerous? 

 

National Resource Defense Council's Is BPA-free the Same as Safe?  Feb 2009. Bottom line, unable to determine because manufacturer does not state components of Tritan "copolyester" plastic.

 

Reuse

  • Could you use an item for another purpose rather than throwing it out?

 

  • If you have a plastic container without its lid, could you use the bottom half as a mold for making bird suet? Once the suet is frozen, tap it out of the container and store it in a recycled plastic bag. Read the Sialis in-depth page of suet recipes. Brenda's Super Mix is easy to make and readily eaten by bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens. You may add black-oil sunflower and chipped sunflowers seeds to the mix

 

  • Save waxed cereal bags for a sandwich or cookies for a bag lunch. 

 

  • Save large plastic bags such as those that hold your toilet paper to use to dispose of waste rather than using a plastic garbage bag. If you are composting organic waste this is easy to do as you will mainly have dry trash. Learn how to compost by reading the Composting page.

 

  • Use cloth handkerchiefs rather than tissue. They are easy to make from scraps of fabric. Cut out a square and fold over the edges to conceal the raw edge. Stitch by machine or hand. Make several to keep one in your bed, bike, car, pockets, and to give as gifts. Wash with your regular clothes.

 

  • Keep a kitchen cloth beside your sink to use to wipe up the counter rather than a paper towel. Wash with your regular clothes. You may want to color code the cloth use; i.e. green ones for floor use and blue ones for the counter.

 

  • Keep rags under each sink to use to wipe up floor spills rather than using a paper towel.

 

 

  • Bring cloth bags for purchases rather than accepting a plastic or paper bag from a merchant. Keep cloth bags beside your door or in your bicycle or car so you'll remember to use them. IKEA is the first national merchant that no longer provides bags for customers. Make a tote bag from scrap fabric or old clothing following the instructions for the classic open tote at the Make It Easy Sewing & Craft link.  To find out why read the Sierra Club's article Plastic Bags: Switching to Reusable Cloth Bags. View PDF to see photos from various sources showing the hazards of plastic bags: The Plastic Bag Story.pdf 

 

  • Bring fine mesh cotton bags for produce.  As soon as you empty out the produce at home put them inside your cloth grocery bags in your car or bike or keep one in your handbag or waist pouch. Make draw-string ones or buy them. They are easy to make. Fold fabric in half, right sides together; sew seam along two sides. Turn down top raw edge twice, making about a 1/2 inch wide edge. Leaving 2 inches open along each side seam to insert drawstring, sew across the folded edge.  Insert ribbon or cord through 2 inch opening forming loop on one side seam and tie ends together at other side seam.  If confused, follow the directions for small wheelchair tote bag at the Make it Easy Sewing & Craft link.

 

  • Start knitting. One knitter reused his old rock climbing rope to knit a floor mat. The Public Library for Union County, 255 Reitz Blvd. Lewisburg, offers free knitting classes for all levels each Monday 10 - 11:30 AM.  Free childcare is provided. Bring practice yarn and needles and/or a project you are working on. Call the library for further class details, 570.523.1172.

 

  • Use cloth bags, cloth napkins, tablecloth, or comics for gift wrapping. Follow instructions at See the pattern here on Annie's Gift bags page of Make it Easy Sewing & Craft link.

 

  • Visit the various second-hand stores throughout our region and when travelling. Books, etc. 503 S Rte 11/15 Selinsgrove 372.0780 in strip mall beside Walmart sells used paper and hardcover books that are well displayed alphabetically by author in various categories.

 

  • Directions from Domesticali blog page to make an origami wreath.
     

Recycle

Recylcing only helps if there is a market for the recycled items and if people buy recycled items. Conserving our natural resources for future generations needs to be the focus. Trees, for example, take many years to regenerate so we need to harvest them sustainably so we will always have wood to build furniture, homes, etc. Biodegradable products that are composted return nutrients to the soil.

 

Purchasing wisely helps conserve our natural resources. Think of what will happen to an item when you are finished using it.

 

Act 101 of 1988 requires commercial, municipal, and institutional establishments located in Pennsylvania's mandated municipalities to recycle high-grade office paper, corrugated paper, aluminum and leaf waste.  In addition, establishments must recycle any other materials included in the municipality’s recycling ordinance or regulations, which includes glass, newsprint, and #1 and #2 plastics.  Community events such as fairs, carnivals, and sporting events must also comply.

 

Local recycling centers

Most in our area accept clean aluminum and bi-metal cans, glass bottles, newspaper, office paper, magazines, corrugated cardboard, and #1 and #2 plastic bottles with necks smaller than the body.

County Recycling Links: Lycoming, Snyder, Union. Other Counties on DEP County Recycling Coordinators List. East Buffalo Twp Recycling

 

Remember though, waste prevention is the most important step; only buy what you really need.

 

Habitat ReStores

Accept quality used and surplus building materials. What is accepted varies by store so call the store before bringing large items. Pick-up service may be available for a charge. These retail outlets sell the items to help fund the construction of Habitat houses in the local communities. Habit for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need. Stores in our region are located in Williamsport and Bellefonte, contact info.

 

Hand-Up Recycling Resource Center

Milton  275 Mahoning St. 570.742.3600  Open M - F, 8:30-4, Sa 9-1. Staff will help you unload your vehicle.

Accepts same items as county recycling centers as noted above as well as chip board such as flattened cereal and detergent boxes, electronics including cell phones and TVs, household appliances, furniture, any scrap metals, clothing and shoes in any condition. If the clothing and shoes are not usable they are recycled. Freon in unusable refrigerators is syphoned out and recycled. There may be a charge for recycling certain electronics. Usable items are sold at the Hand Up Foundation Discount Center which is now located in the same building as the recycling center; entrance on Willow St. It is no longer located beside Ben Franklin Crafts. HandUP is a faith-based non-profit and social entrepreneurial organization dedicated to helping people in the Susquehanna Valley. This center accepts more types of items than any other known in our area.

 

Freecycle

Grassroots global nonprofit organization seeking to keep usable items out of landfills. Sign in at the site to read postings, either items Wanted or Offered.  All items must be free. Enter your city or county and state to find the group nearest you. Lewisburg, for example, is listed under Union County, PA.

 

Thrifty Thrift

Second-hand store located at Linntown Elemetary School in Lewisburg. The school accepts age appropriate donated items during regular school hours, i.e., jewelry, stuffed animals, glass goods, pottery, clothes, shoes, sports equipment, lamps.  The store is open to all elementary students on a voucher system to "purchase" items for themselves or to give as gifts. Each class visits the store on a set day. Students may earn vouchers to purchase items in the store. Special items are offered through a drawing. Students may use a voucher to obtain tickets for the drawing. If donated items are not "sold" within a certain time frame the items are donated to the American Rescue Workers in Williamsport. Thrify Thrift started at Eichorn Middle School in 1993 by a group of teachers and is now based at Linntown Elementary.

 

National Charities Benefit Foundation

Founded in 1997 and is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) public supported nonprofit organization qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions.  The organization is composed of non-salaried volunteers. Based in PA Furnace. Items may include: automobiles, trucks, motor homes, boats, aricraft, art, antiques, collections, computers, real estate, stocks and bonds or a complete estate. Individuals donating personal property to the National Charities Benefit Foundation can receive a tax deduction based on the fair market value of the property donated.  The net proceeds will be distriburted to one or several charities of the donors choice. Contact Info

 

Read the Composting page to learn what organic matter may be composted in your yard.

 

Climate Change 

Composting

EcoGardening

Native Plant Landscaping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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