How to Waste Less
The following tips were taken from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste":

Reduce

Source reduction, often called waste prevention, means consuming less and throwing away less. Because source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, it is the most preferable method of waste management and goes a long way toward protecting the environment. Less waste also means less land put aside for burying waste in landfills.

Tip 1: Reduce the Amount of Packaging

- Avoid buying products with excess packaging;

- When appropriate, use products that you already have to do household chores;

- Consider buying large, economy-sized household items that are used frequently, such as laundry soap, shampoo, dishwashing detergent, pet foods, and cat litter; such sizes usually have less packaging per unit of product. For food items, choose the largest size that can be used before spoiling.

- Whenever possible, buy products such as grocery, hardware, and household items in bulk, concentrated form, or in refillable packages; they often require less packaging and less energy to transport to the store, thereby saving money as well as natural resources.

Tip 2: Adopt Practices that Reduce Waste Toxicity

- Take actions that use nonhazardous or less hazardous materials to accomplish the task at hand. Instead of using pesticides, for example, use non-toxic methods to control insects and pests; consider using nonhazardous products to complete the same job as products using hazardous components;

- If you do use products containing hazardous materials, use only the amounts needed; donate leftover materials to a business or charity or share them with neighbors; dispose of used motor oil and other household hazardous materials at a facility that accepts them for recycling;

- For products containing hazardous components, read and follow all directions on product labels. Make sure the containers are always labeled properly and stored safely.

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Copyright © 2000 Santa Barbara County Public Works Department
Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division

Last updated: March 26, 2008