Fun Links:

ReDuce > ReUse > ReCycle

ReDuce

• turn off lights when not in use
• turn off and unplug electronics when not in use
• water lawn only when necessary
• shorten your showers and use low-flow showerheads
• limit amount of paper used, print only when needed
• stop junk mail to your home
• learn decomposition rates

ReUse

• don't throw away something if you can give it away or even sell it; to someone who can use it and you can even make money
• buy used items and try to can reuse the items that you currently own
• save gift boxes, ribbon, tissue paper, bows, packing supplies (bubble wrap, peanuts, etc.)
• use cloth napkins, cloth diapers and dish cloths

ReCycle

• look into composting
• collect the acceptable recycling items and use your home recycling pick-up service or go to your local recycling center; to find the recycling center nearest you, go to Earth911.com's Recycling Center search
  
  Items that CAN and CANNOT be recycled:
  

  PAPER

  
  
  
  
  • White ledger paper: computer, copy machine and typewriter paper; white ledger pads, adding machine tape
  • News Quality Papers: newspaper, phonebooks, wide-lined news print
  • Folders: manila, colored and coated folders
  • Mail: letters, brochures, advertisements, magazines
  • Correspondence: legal pad paper, colored paper and message sheets, self adhesive notes, index cards, fax paper
  • Envelopes: with or without windows, with labels, colored and coated
  • Computer paper
  • Brown Papers: brown envelopes, brown grocery bags, cereal boxes, beverage cartons, grey cartons and clean pizza boxes (without grease)
  • Cardboard Boxes: broken down into 3 feet by 3 feet sections
  • White ledger paper: computer, copy machine and typewriter paper; white ledger pads, adding machine tape
  • News Quality Papers: newspaper, phonebooks, wide-lined news print
  • Folders: manila, colored and coated folders
  • Do NOT take: text books, candy wrappers, pizza boxes, Styrofoam egg cartons; dirty plates, cups or napkins; facial tissue, paper towels
  
  

  PLASTIC

  
  
  
  
  • Bottles: soda, milk, detergent, shampoo & small-mouth bottles
  • Do NOT take: plastic plates, utensils, cups, grocery bags or toys
  • to be more accurate, look at the plastic identification codes.
  
  

  GLASS

  
  
  
  
  • Bottles: clear, brown, green and blue glass bottles and jars in which food products are packaged
  • Do NOT take: window glass, drinking glasses, light bulbs
  
  

  METAL

  
  
  
  
  • Cans: aluminum, bi-metal beverage cans; steel food/tin cans; empty aerosol cans
  • Do NOT take: paint cans, coat hangers, steel scrap, batteries