Ways to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Recycling isn't just for cans and bottles --- look for ways to recycle old cell phones, gadgets and large electronics like TVs.


In 2009, the average U.S. citizen generated 4.34 pounds of garbage every day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (see References 1). As trash piles up in landfills and litters roadsides and natural spaces, many people feel compelled to take steps to reduce the waste they leave curbside for weekly trash pickup. The three R's --- reduce, reuse and recycle --- act as a starting point for lessening your household's waste generation.

Reduce Waste

The most sustainable option is always to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place. Refusing a particular item not only prevents it from entering into the waste stream but saves the energy needed to produce it, then recycle or dispose of it.

Begin by assessing what your household throws away. Take a look at your garbage --- if yours is like most households, more than half of its trash consists of containers, wrappers and other nondurable goods, like paper (see References 1, page 66). Choose items with minimal packaging. For example, purchase loose vegetables rather than veggies shrink-wrapped in foam trays. Give up plastic bags in favor of reusable shopping bags. Support companies that minimize and use eco-friendly packaging.

Finally, carefully consider each purchase and resist the urge to make impulse buys. Nearly 20 percent of what ends up in the landfill is durable goods, big-purchase items like furniture, electronics, carpet and appliances (see References 1, page 66). Allow yourself a 24-hour waiting period before making any new purchases of such items. If you still feel you need the item after 24 hours, go ahead and buy it, but look for the most durable, versatile, high-quality and energy-efficient model you can afford --- in other words, look for something you'll have for decades, not years.

Reduce Harmful Waste

Part of the first R also involves reducing hazardous or unsustainable wastes. When purchasing chemicals, always choose the least toxic items that will get the job done. When considering packaging options, choose the least harmful to the environment. For example, paper bags can go into your recycling bin or compost pile, as can cardboard boxes. Plastic bags and cellophane wrappers, on the other hand, clutter landfills.


Reusing involves finding new owners for items in working condition, as well as repurposing items usually destined for the trash or recycling cans. Look for items at secondhand stores, yard sales and community swap or "free-cycle" programs. Likewise, donate --- don't discard --- your unused items.

Take a look again at your trash can and ask yourself what uses you can find for the items you're throwing away. For example, yogurt cups and butter tubs can double as pots for starting seeds or plant cuttings. Rinse out glass jars and use them to store home-improvement and craft supplies. Getting creative in repurposing "trash" helps you reduce your waste generation, cut back on new purchases and save money.


Recycling should be your last resort when working to reduce the amount of trash your household produces. Although it is preferable to sending your recyclables to a landfill or incinerator, recycling nonetheless requires energy (see References 2, page 16). Check with your local authorities to find out about recycling programs in your area. While many communities offer curbside pickup for cans, bottles and paper, you may need to take other recyclables --- batteries, antifreeze, motor oil and tires --- to a collection center or a retailer that accepts such products.

You can also recycle food scraps and paper through composting, a process by which such wastes break down into organic matter that is a soil enrichment. Spread finished compost on your lawn or garden or add it to your houseplants to improve their growth. (See References 3)

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