Reuse
So many items have become or are made to be disposable that it's easy to forget that not everything has to be thrown away. Pack your peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a reusable container instead of that plastic wrap you'll discard immediately. Carry the drink of your choice in a plastic bottle instead of relying on multiple one-use cups throughout the day. Reusing not only avoids the production of new items, it also cuts down on the wasteful products you consume. It eliminates waste that will likely be disposed of in a landfill or incinerated.
There are a lot of other ways to reuse materials by taking small steps that can be incorporated into your life a little at a time. Here are a few for starters:
Reuse totes and bags. When going to the grocery store or the mall, take along your own bags. This pairs reducing with recycling — you'll reduce the need for plastic bags and reuse the canvas or cloth bags you already have.
Swap it out. Many cities today have networks to exchange one person's trash for someone else's treasure. This is also popular on the Internet — members post messages describing what they have available and other members post their interest. Members schedule a pickup, but no money trades hands. One dominant force in the swap arena is Freecycle. See www.freecycle.org for more information.
Make a charitable donation. If you know of an organization in your area that's looking for household items, clothes, even cell phones, consider making a donation. Sometimes organizations offer to pick up the items, and donations are tax deductible.
Be creative. There are a variety of ways to reuse items in your home. Printer paper has two sides and can be reused as scrap paper. Packaging materials can be used for arts and crafts projects. Sunday comics make colorful wrapping paper. Junk mail can be cut and used as note paper.
Some cities and counties have collection centers where reusable materials can be collected and stored. Items like paint and motor oil are shelved and available for free to other residents. Most communities have turned to online swapping, using sites such as www.freecycle.org and www.freesharing.org. These organizations allow items to be reused without having to maintain a storage unit. Members post what they have available, from paint to furniture to baby items, and other members ask for the items. The decision of who gets what is usually made based on the response time.
