Best Practices
When it comes to trash and recycling, keep it simple—these easy best practices help you make smarter everyday decisions about your impact.
What to know
01
Reduce
Use what you have AND use things up before cycling them.
02
Pay attention to packaging
Choose things packaged in aluminum, glass, paper and
cardboard BEFORE things with plastic. Less packaging = better choice!
03
Your dollar has POWER
Spend locally, buy recycled goods, and shop thrift stores.
04
Say, “No, thanks”
to disposables, freebies, junk mail, cheap quality, and excess.
Best
Aluminum is the most efficient material to recycle—it can be reused indefinitely with minimal energy, so make sure cans and cups go in the recycling bin.
Great
Glass is a close second—it can be recycled endlessly without losing quality, so bottles and jars are always worth putting in the bin.
Good
Paper and cardboard are worth recycling because they can be reprocessed multiple times, reducing landfill waste and the need to cut down new trees.
Okay
Plastic is be worth recycling, but focus on types #1, #2, #4, and #5, which are the most widely accepted and effectively reprocessed.
What to Recycle
LANDFILLS > LITTER
When in doubt, throw it out.
Trash and landfills are not the enemy. Throwing things away is actually an environmentally sound recycling philosophy. Energy is captured when waste goes to a landfill, and contaminated or questionable items clog the system, creating unnecessary expenses and ultimately generating more waste.
