Global Environment.com |
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Reduce trash when you shop
You probably don't go to the store saying, "I think I'll buy
some garbage today." But depending on which products you choose,
that is at least partly what you're doing. By purchasing stuff that's
over-packaged, disposable or of poor quality, your cash can soon end
up as trash.
 Reusable,
refillable, returnable
Paper
nor plastic!
Least-waste
packaging
Get
the most out of what you buy
DfE:
Better by design
Greener
cleaners
Measure
before you paint
Rent
or borrow
Waste
reduction tip
Purchase products that are returnable,
reusable or refillable
Purchase reusable and refillable containers to use in your home instead
of disposable items. Think about ways to reuse items in your home.
Look for ways to reduce the amount of trash you throw in the garbage
by making good purchasing decisions and looking for ways to reduce.
Example: Avoid buying single-use items like paper
or plastic plates, cups and disposable silverware. You will spend
more money buying these types of items and throwing them away than
you would if you used reusable tableware.
Benefits: Reusable items eliminate or reduce the
number of disposable items thrown away and the costs of disposing
of them.
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Grocery shoppers
use nearly 40 billion bags each year. Most are only used once
and recycled or thrown away. |
"Paper
NOR plastic"
Waste reduction is in the bag
Looking for an easy way to change the way you shop? Reduce the
waste you create when you bring home your purchases.
First
things first — do you even need a bag? Tell the clerk that
you'll carry out your handful of items — why bag that magazine
or pack of gum?! Toss them into your backpack or purse.
A
sturdy cloth bag is a nice investment. You can throw it over your
shoulder for hands-free carrying, and it won't rip if you catch
it on the doorknob or the car door. Cram it full of groceries!
If
you have to use paper or plastic, pick one that you'll use again.
Many grocery stores offer a 5- or 10-cent rebate when you "bring
back the sack" — it's good for the environment and
your pocketbook!
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Purchase products with the least amount
of packaging
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Why shop 'till you drop? Buy only what you need and buy products in bulk
containers and concentrates with less packaging. Shop in the bulk aisle
at the grocery store for things that you seem to be buying often and have
long shelf-lives such as detergents, dog food, pasta, cereal, cleaners
and paper products. Buying in bulk will decrease waste and the total cost.
Be alert – some "bulk packages" are just individually
wrapped items that are packaged yet again and sold as a bulk item. You
will be getting a lot more packaging than you were counting on.
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Waste
reduction is "in the bag" |
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Example: Next time you go to the store, make a list of what
you need. Then look for opportunities to buy in bulk or buy products
that have less packaging. Look at a product and think about how much
of what you are paying for will end up in the trash.
Benefits: Not only are you saving money, but also
you won't have to go to the store as often. When you shop smart by buying
things in bulk or in concentrate you can reduce the amount of packaging
headed to the trash.
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Get
the most out of what you buy
Nothing lasts forever. The things we buy today will eventually become
waste in the future. Here are some questions to ask before you buy to
protect your investment and prevent wasting time and money.
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Is
it reliable? Ask the "experts" — people or
organizations that have tested or repaired the product you want to buy.
Evaluate the repair history of that product.
Compare
warranties. A longer warranty suggests that the manufacturer
feels confident that it will last longer.
How
long do you need it? Are you purchasing a less reliable product
because it's inexpensive and you don't want to invest in something that
you'll rarely use? Consider renting or borrowing instead. Why buy –
and then store – something you don't really need?
What
does it really cost? The purchase price is not the same as
the cost to use and maintain a product. The longer you own something,
the less it costs over time.
Can
I repair or upgrade it? Buying products that are easy to repair
or improve will make your initial investment last longer. For example,
you might be able to get some more life out of an older computer by
improving one or two components instead of buying a whole new system.
A "faster" processor doesn't necessarily need a new mouse
or monitor. Upgrading lets you have "state-of-the-art" equipment
at lower cost and with less waste.
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Better
by design: |
Creating
products with the environment in mind |
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Reducing waste and pollution isn't just a consumer decision. In fact,
the amount of harmful chemicals a product uses and the trash it creates
or turns into during its useful life is mostly determined when it's
still just an idea inside a designer's brain. Manufacturers are embracing
design for the environment (DfE) — designing products and manufacturing
methods that reduce environmental impact from the ground up.
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Honda's
gas-electric hybrid. Most cars produce tons of
pollution over their lifespan, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide
(CO2) and other chemicals that come out the tailpipe. Honda
designed this "hybrid" vehicle with an electric motor
and a small gasoline engine. The combination creates a car that
gets 70+ miles per gallon and churns out significantly less pollution,
yet still has similar range and performance to conventional autos.
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Sustainable fabric.
Recognizing that the manufacturing of a product
usually produces far more waste and pollution than the product
itself will ever create, DesignTex
totally rethought the process. Their William McDonough fabric
collection starts with sustainably grown natural wool and ramie
fibres. The fabric is coloured with dyes selected for their low
environmental impacts: non-carcinogenic, non-toxic and no heavy
metals. No pollutants are created during the fabric manufacturing
process. This fabric is currently being used for office furniture.
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Human-powered portables.
Battery-powered devices are very convenient, but batteries wear
down, can be expensive to buy and a create garbage when they wear
out. But Freeplay designed
a portable flashlight and radio that run on elbow grease. Wind
them up and they're ready to use! Look ma, no cord!
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Design for disassembly.
To reduce waste, Dell
Computer's modular computer chassis is designed for easy disassembly,
using connectors like snap-together hooks and latches in place
of screws or glue. This design also allows for simple replacement
of memory or storage devices during upgrades. For easier recycling
at end-of-life, Dell now uses fewer types of plastics, and marks
them with internationally recognized codes for easy identification.
The company also avoids using coatings or composite materials
that are difficult to recycle. |
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 Choose
the least hazardous cleaning products
With so many choices of products to clean your house, it can be difficult
to choose the best one. So, instead of buying many different types of
cleaners, use one general-purpose cleaner.
Read the labels of cleaners and look for the signal words
— caution, warning, danger, poison — which indicate the
level of hazard. Use the least hazardous product to do the job. ("Caution"
is least hazardous and "danger" is most hazardous. Extremely
toxic products must also include the word "poison.")
Not every cleaning chore needs a harsh chemical, deodorant or a disinfectant.
You may be able to use some home remedies, such as vinegar and water
to cut grease and baking soda to scrub stains. They are less toxic —
and cheaper, too.
Read the instructions on how to use cleaning products and be sure to
use the correct amount. Remember, you won't get twice the results by
using twice as much.
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Apply
the tape-measure before the paint.
When buying paint for your home, pull out the tape measure before you
reach for your pocketbook. The math is really simple:
Calculate
the area to be painted Height x Width = Total square feet
One
gallon of paint covers about 400 square feet.
Read labels and choose the least hazardous paint. Ask for help in picking
products with low volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Perhaps you can
select water-based paint, stains, finishes and paint stripper.To prevent
paint from drying out, cover the paint can with plastic wrap, replace
the lid securely and store the paint upside down. Use stored paint for
touch-up jobs or smaller projects. Blend similar colours for larger
jobs or use as a primer when the finish is not critical.
Benefits: By buying only what you need, you will have less paint to
store or dispose of and you'll save money up front by buying less paint
in the first place.
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More handling tips
for latex paint
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- Reduce waste by storing latex paint
in areas that do not freeze.
- Prevent paint from drying out by
covering the paint can with plastic wrap before replacing the lid
and storing the paint upside down.
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- Don't put liquid paint in the trash
or pour it down the drain.
- Leave paint in its original container
so it's easily identified.
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- Small amounts of waste latex paint
can be air-dried and thrown away with your trash.
- Store some paint for touch-ups, or
do an extra coat to use up leftovers.
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Rent or borrow instead of buying
By renting equipment you can avoid having to purchase items
that you may only use a few times. Some of the most commonly rented
items are trailers, lawn care equipment, tables and chairs, ladders,
power tools, tents and tree trimming equipment. You could also borrow
items from friends or family to avoid purchasing.
Example: Rent or borrow items for your family or neighbourhood
get-together. Churches and schools are great resources for tables and
chairs, and tents can be rented from most party rental centres. Renting
reusable dishware from banquet halls for events and gatherings can prevent
waste from disposable cups, plates, and silverware.
Benefits: Renting items saves you money and time,
plus it can reduce the amount of trash created by these events. Often
the rental centre will drop off and pick up the items for you.
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 Waste
Reduction Tip: Extend the life of your rechargeable devices
Rechargeable appliances are very convenient, and they seem
to be popping up everywhere. The battery pack is an expensive and important
piece of a rechargeable device. Follow these tips to maximize the useful
life of your rechargeable batteries.
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Things
you should do:
Read
and follow the charging instructions provided with your product. Each
charger utilizes a specific strategy to charge the battery.
Charge
your new battery overnight (14–16 hours) before using it. This
is called "initializing" and will enable you to obtain maximum
battery capacity.
Let
a discharged battery cool to room temperature before recharging. A warm
battery will signal a thermal cut-off switch to stop the charging process
prematurely, and the battery will not get a full charge. |
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Things not to do:
Don't
recharge batteries when they are close to fully charged already. A discharged
battery can be detected by a sharp drop in speed or power, or by a reduction
in the number of power indicators.
Don't
return a fully charged battery to the charger for an "extra boost."
This can overcharge the cells and significantly shorten their life span.
Don't
use the charger as a stand. Only use the charger if your rechargeable
appliance — phone, power tool or electric razor — needs
to be fully recharged. Continuous charging will shorten battery life.
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When your rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries no longer hold
a charge, you should collect them for recycling. Do not put them in
with your trash
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