What You Can Do About Climate Change — Waste

On this page:

• Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle
• Shop Smart and Recycle Thoughtfully
• Fight Food Waste
• Everyday Actions Add Up

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Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle

The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Save money, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by practicing the five R's: 

• Refuse: If you don’t need something, say no thanks. You can help reduce waste by declining extra packaging, plastic cutlery, printed copies, and other items when you don’t need them.  

• Reduce: Buy only what you need and be thoughtful about how it can be re-used. Borrow, rent, or share items that are used infrequently, like party decorations or tools.  

• Reuse: Reuse items such as grocery bags and containers to cut down on the amount of waste you create.  

• Repair: If an object becomes broken or worn down, such as a piece of clothing, an electronic, or furniture, consider repairing it rather than disposing of it. 

• Recycle: If you are unable to reduce, reuse, or repair something, then check if it can be recycled. Many materials like metals, glass, paper, and (some) plastics can be recycled. Recycling these materials allows them to be turned into new products, which prevents both additional waste products entering landfills and the creation of new materials.  

Shop Smart and Recycle Thoughtfully

• Think green before you shop. Reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by thinking about the environmental impact of products. For example, consider a product’s durability, sustainability, and ease of recycling when making a purchase. 

  

• When possible, buy used items to reduce waste as well as the emissions created by producing new materials or disposing of them in landfills. 

• Look for products made with recycled content. Check labels to see if a product or its packaging is made from recycled content .

• Know before you throw. Know what items your local recycling program collects and encourage your household to recycle right and recycle more.  

• For certain items that are still in great working condition, but that you don’t or can’t use, donation can be a great option.   

Everyday Actions Add Up

Here are just a few of the many ways to reduce waste at home, at work, and at school. Check out even more examples on Reducing Waste: What You Can Do and spread the word. 

At home: 

• Compost your food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic waste.  
• Use reusable rags, sponges, mops, and other cleaning products.   
• When possible, pay bills via e-billing programs to save paper. 

At work: 

• Save documents to your drive instead of printing them.  
• Create an office supply swap to encourage reuse of items.

At school: 

• When possible, reuse old school supplies instead of buying new ones.  
• If you pack your lunch, use reusable water bottles and containers instead of disposable ones.