Apart from the items
that we are more familiar with recycling, such as glass, aluminum and paper
there are other issues to consider. Food waste alone in the US is a big burden
on our landfills. Every year 280 pounds of food are wasted per household that makes
28 billion pounds in all. There are several things we can do right now to
reduce this problem.
Precycle
One of the keys to reducing household waste is precycling.
This means considering waste items when you are buying food and other household
products so you can eliminate the amount of waste you produce right from the
start.
avoid excess product packaging
take reusable bags to the store to avoid having to use
plastic bags
say no to plastic containers whenever possible
choose items in reusable or recycling packaging rather than
disposable
buy in bulk to reduce packaging
avoid purchasing products with Styrofoam packaging
buy long life items such as batteries and light bulbs
avoid household products containing hazardous or toxic
chemicals
Reuse
Before you put something into the garbage can, stop and
consider if it can be reused. There are a number of creative uses for even the
most mundane items.
reuse glass bottles and jars to store spices, oils and
preserves
reuse plastic containers for freezing leftovers from meals
use cardboard, wrapping paper and packaging for craft
projects
plastic lids from cans can be used to make coasters for mugs
or plants
egg cartons can make storage containers for small office
items or jewelry
Recycle
start a compost pile in your garden for all your household
food waste
reuse glass and plastic containers for storage
shred newspaper and use it as mulch in the garden
The Salvation Army and other charities needs your unwanted
items such as clothes and furniture
Hazardous Waste
Materials
Some household materials contain hazardous or toxic
chemicals that need special disposal methods. These items should not be put
into the regular garbage or poured down the sink. If you are unsure how or
where to dispose of these items you can contact your local recycling center for
specific details.
paints, thinners, varnishes, degreasers and solvents
batteries and light bulbs
lawn and garden chemicals and fertilizers
household cleaning products
automotive products
swimming pool chemicals
CDs and DVDs
Disposing of
Computers Safely
Each year around 50 million computers become obsolete either
because they have stopped functioning, they are out of date, or users simply
want to upgrade. Environmentally friendly disposal of hardware is becoming a
rapidly growing problem. Computers and peripherals are accumulating in
landfills where they leach hazardous and toxic chemicals into the soil and air.
Donating your
computer
If a computer is less than five years old and still in
working order, it can usually be put to good use by someone. There are a number
of ways you can donate your computer.
give it to a local charity such as the Salvation Army
donate it to a local school
usedComputer.com has a list of groups looking for hardware
donations and what they need
The National Christian Foundation works along with Dell to
accept recycled computers
Recycling Companies
There are a number of authorized IT recycling companies
throughout the US. These organizations de-manufacture computers safely to
prevent organizations and individuals from facing state and EPA penalties for
improper disposal. Once the computer reaches the recycling center if it is
beyond repair it will be disassembled and stripped of all the parts that may be
reused in some form or other. Often only a very small percentage of the
computer actually ends up as waste. The non-reusable parts are remarketed and
the parts that cannot be used are usually sent to smelters and refiners where
they are degraded to be recycled in other ways.
Corinna Underwood is a freelance writer who specializes in
sustainable living, the
environment and Historical aerials.
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