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Reuse and Recycle

Reuse:  Reuse plastic shopping bags for rubbish, garage sales or to carry your lunch.  Reuse cleaning products like sponges instead of paper towels.  If you can’t make good use of it, before throwing it in the garbage bin, think!  Can it or part of it be reused?

Try and fix it:  Instead of immediately thinking of replacing broken things, give a real shot at fixing them. Think who amongst you mates may have the technical knowledge and enthusiasm to help you kick-start it. 

Recycle: If you are going to trash it, use the correct neighbourhood recycling bins. And buy products with genuine recycled content.  Check recycling claims on paper products which should achieve a minimum of 30% recycled component.

Buy Recycled Products
In many cases, products made from recycled materials require less energy to produce as compared to those made from virgin materials.  It takes less than 50% the energy to make steel items from recycled steel.

Recycle Printer Paper. The third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution is the pulp and paper industry. Use paper made from post-consumer waste, and recycle your newspapers.

Go Second-hand. Before purchasing something, ask yourself if you already have it or something similar that can be reused. If there's something you need only once or twice, don't buy it.  Borrow and return it. Or go to Vinnies or the Salvos.

Refill Your Printer Cartridge. Find a Cartridge World franchise and reuse instead of tossing and buying a new one. Mailing your used cartridges somewhere uses fossil-fuel-intensive air travel. The same with gimmicky faux green products that come with a mailing envelope. Don't mail something to recycle it!

Recycle Responsibly.  Be sure your e-waste recycler isn't merely collecting and selling it to brokers who'll ship it to a developing nation or a prison where it will be dismantled for salvageable parts and dumped. Go to www.ban.org and choose recyclers like Green Citizen who've taken the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship.

You don’t always have to shell out your hard earned cash:  Don't rush out to get a new bestseller; visit a used bookstore or start a book exchange with your friends or use your local library.