 Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Today, nearly 100 million people participate in
recycling every day. This is one way individuals
can actively help maintain a clean and healthy
environment. The community has embraced waste
reduction programs and it shows!
Congratulations Monterey! In 2008 we kept 68% of
the waste generated out of the landfill and made
into other reusable products.
In addition to
recycling, here is an interesting list of 101
things you can do to be more "Earth Friendly" in
your everyday activities.
Reduce
| Reuse |
Recycle
REDUCE
When you reduce the amount of waste that you
generate, that means you will have less to throw
away in the end. It's better not to make the
waste in the first place.
- Prevent waste in the
first place. Click here for some
Waste
Prevention techniques.
- Choose durable goods
and reusable products. Buy fewer disposable
products.
- Look for "refillable"
and "rechargeable" products. Save money on
Batteries
while reducing waste.
-
Stop Junk Mail
now! Get off Junk Mail lists that send all that
unwanted junk mail to your home.
Eliminate catalogs that you receive and do
not read by contacting the companies or
mailing back the tag with your name and
information on it.
- Borrow, rent or share
with family and friends items that are used
infrequently.
- Buy bulk items,
concentrates and products with less
packaging. Packaging is nearly one-third of
the cost of our purchases and an even
greater percentage of our trash.
- Switch to reusable
bags, such as cloth bags. Recycle plastic bags in your curbside
bin with the
Bag
your Bag and Tie Program.
- Make all picnics,
parties or family gatherings
Waste Free events
(Coming Soon!).
- Switch to energy
and water conserving appliances in
your home or business.
Rebate programs help offset the costs of
switching and are yet another way to help
you save energy, money and our environment's
natural resources
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REUSE
Discover
new ways to use old things! Reuse items instead of throwing them away.
You'll
save money and conserve resources.
- Buy quality and
repair when possible.
- Repair or refurbish
old or broken machinery, appliances and
furniture.
- Be creative -- find
new uses for old things! Check out our
Creative Gift Ideas!
-
Donate
unwanted, usable items to charity, or
consider
Material
Exchange websites,
such as
www.FreeCycle.org Check out the
Award Winning
Last
Chance Mercantile, it's a local
gem!
- Donate packaging
peanuts to local shipping supply stores.
Donate hangers to local dry cleaners. Think
of other items that could be reused by other
people if you no longer need or want them.
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RECYCLE
Curbside
recycling is best for bottles, cans, mixed
paper, cardboard, and
yard trimmings.
These products are made into other usable
products.
When you buy those products again, that's called
Closing The Loop!
- Follow the
Curbside Recycling
Guide to understand what can go
in your blue cart. Recycling an aluminum can
saves 95 percent of the energy it would take
to make a new one from scratch!
The industry needs glass to make more glass.
- Curbside recycling is
available free of charge in the City of Monterey. If your
apartment complex does not have recycling,
ask your apartment manager to contact
Monterey City
Disposal Service
to start service, it's free!
-
Electronic Waste as well as
hazardous waste needs to be
cautiously disposed or recycled on the
peninsula.
- Buy recycled products
and materials. Recycling is the first step,
buying recycled closes the loop!
::
Download a printable guide for what can be
recycled in Monterey! ::
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