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Ten Easy Step YOU Can Take NOW!

1. Have a Home Waste Audit. 
    Waste audits can be as simple or as complicated as you like.

  • spread newspapers or plastic out, and remove items from the trash can. At work, make sure not to empty the trashcans for at least a day. 
  • separate contents into four piles: Recycle, Compost, Reuse/Repair and Other. Use a recycle/reuse guide to help.  
  • Take a close look at the items in the "other" pile. What types of item are they? Non-recyclable plastics such as non-numbered packaging, or disposable razors? Polystyrene? Mixed-material items? 
  • Find out ways to avoid purchasing these items. For example, make the commitment to purchase eggs in paper cartons instead of polystyrene, or refuse to purchase items packaged in non-numbered plastics.
     

A waste audit provides opportunites beyond reducing the "other" pile--it also allows us to examine our shopping habits. Even though something is recyclable, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to reduce the amount we use. 

  • If a lot of single-serving snack or beverage containers are present, consider buying in bulk.
  • If a lot of junkmail and flyers are being thrown away unopened, put a "No Junk Mail!" sign on your mailbox.

2. Say no to plastic bags!
Plastic bags...arg!  Talk about an action with multiple points of impact! Simply by taking a reusable cloth bag out shopping, you are helping to reduce the 9 billion disposable shopping bags used every year in Canada. You are also easing the strain on the landfill and recycling system, and reducing the 2 million barrels a day of oil used to produce bags. 

3. Bring your own Mug.
The idea is simple, and it isn't new, but using the same mug every time helps put a dent in the 300 Billion disposable cups used every year. 

4. Buy in Bulk
Buying anything in larger quantities, whether breakfast cereal, tomato sauce, toilet paper or laundry detergent cuts down on the total amount of packaging. If possible, shopping from bulk bins at the grocery can also cut out unecessary layers of packaging.

5. Compost!
It's not nearly as hard as you might think! Composting at home can easily reduce up to a third of your household waste, and can help solve the problem of what to do with yard waste as well. Setting up a compost system is easy, can cost next to nothing, and takes only minutes a day to maintain. 

6. Shop Thrift
Whenever possible, buy used instead of new. In a toss-up between a brand new, sustainable manufactured item and a slightly used one, the value of the used item will win hands down.

7. Make the switch to green cleaners.
Reducing waste also means reducing the toxicity in our environment. We can help by refusing to use harsh, possibly toxic cleaners and personal care products. A rule of thumb: if they are willing to tell you everything that's in it, it's probably okay to use. Check out our Guide to Green Cleaning. 

8. Use Rechargable Batteries 
Not only can they be recharged up to 1,000 times, at the end of thier life they can be recycled through local businesses. Recycling non-rechargable batteries is much more challenging, and many end up in the landfill!

9. Celebrate Success
Small actions count, and we need to remember to celebrate that. Next time you see a fellow shopper with cloth bags, smile and comment on them. Raise a toast to other reusable coffee mug users. Let pRRRdy know! We want to help you brag up all of your successes, however big or little they may be. 

10. Make Every Day Earth Day!/ Make Green the New Normal
Stay in a "green" state of mind year round, not just in April! It's great to go the extra mile and make a big splash on special "green" occasions, but that doesn't mean the other 364 days of the year don't need your attention too! Make Green the new Normal!