Conserve Waste
Waste contributes to climate change through methane emitted from landfills as well as from the emissions "embodied" in an item from the energy needed to mine, grow or harvest the resources and the energy involved in production, packaging and transportation.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
1. First things first, let's REDUCE the amount that we consume and shift our consumption practices. Purchasing well-designed products and services is the first step to revving up your waste reduction routine.
2. The second "R" is REUSE. Find practical uses for items before you toss them into the trash or the blue cart. Find quality items that someone else has used at second-hand stores, online bulletin boards or places like E-Bay. Many items we need can be purchased used, reducing the impact on natural resources.
3. Lastly, RECYCLE is diverting end-use materials from the trash to be broken down into their elements and reused in new products. Recycling is free with garbage service!
Be True to the Blue - Know what you can and can't recycle in the blue cart. You can also find the Sonoma County Recycling Guide offline in the Sonoma County ATT Yellow Pages under R for Recycling.
Recycle Your Robots - TV and computer monitors (also called CRTs) are prohibited from disposal in the garbage because of lead and other heavy metals. A typical computer monitor contains four pounds of lead. Other electronics including VCRs, computer printers and items with electronic circuitry or programmable features also require special handling. All Sonoma County Disposal sites accept all of these items for free recycling.
Ink jet cartridges and cell phones - These can be recycled.
Reuse and You Can't Lose - Simple ideas for reuse include creating kitchen notepads from blank sides of used office paper, using empty tissue boxes to store plastic bags and making cleaning rags out of old clothing. Reuse extends the life of a product, reduces the amount of new things we buy, and keeps items out of the landfill. Take the next step and refinish those old wooden chairs. You may find yourself seeking out repairable items at flea markets and yard sales as your creative spirit is inspired.
