第1个回答 2015-04-30
What does reducing waste mean?
When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don't have to worry
about disposing of waste or recycling it later. Changing your habits is the key
— think about ways you can reduce your waste when you shop, work and play.
There's a ton of ways for you to reduce waste, save yourself some time and
money, and be good to the Earth at the same time.
Reduce = say no to waste
You probably don't go to the store saying "I think I'll buy some garbage today." But depending on which products you choose, that's partly what you're doing. Purchasing stuff that's over-packaged or disposable means your cash ends up as trash. Also, make sure you aren’t buying things that contain hazardous chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment.
Consider the following tips for:
Food waste
Compost (food, yard clippings, pet waste)
Plastic and paper
Household and cleaning supplies
Paint and hazardous products
Rechargeable batteries
Big ticket items (cars, furniture, clothing)
Water waste
Construction/demolition waste
Have other ideas for reducing waste? Let us know on the my re:story page.
Food waste
Reduce food waste. Food waste accounts for 20% of the garbage thrown away in the Cowichan Region, and much of this food is thrown out still in its packaging. Food is wasted in many ways, such as buying too much, preparing too much and letting fresh food go bad. Making better use of the food you buy will save you money and reduce how much food you throw away.
Food shopping tips:
Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.
Buy exactly what you need by planning your meals for the week in advance, and creating a list of what you need. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables loose so you can buy exactly how much you need.
Buy smaller quantities more often so you can enjoy food at its best.
Choose organic and local food whenever possible to cut down on the amount of pesticides you eat.
Choose products that are returnable, reusable, or refillable over single-use items -- honey, cream, peanut butter, coffee, shampoo, cosmetics, and dish and laundry soap can be purchased in reflllable containers.
Follow any food storage instructions on the label. Use vegetables that are getting soft to make delicious soups and stews.
Take leftovers for lunch in reusable containers.
Use the freezer to preserve food, and then follow online tips for the best ways to cook frozen food.
Don’t buy disposable and single-use items such as water bottles, plastic food wrap, plastic cutlery, paper coffee cups, plastic take-out food clamshells, razors and diapers. These items make up a large percentage of the total garbage we throw out (even though most can be recycled). Instead refill your own water bottle, and use re-sealable bags and food storage containers to keep food fresh. Bring your own containers to take-out food restaurants, or ask that your food be put into uncoated paper containers that can be composted.
Buy in bulk (e.g. shampoo, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit) using your own containers. If you can’t refill your own containers, consider buying in larger quantities (the overall amount of packaging is reduced when you buy larger volumes of a product).
Be aware of double-packaging. Some "bulk packages" are just individually wrapped items that have been packaged and sold as a bulk item.
Avoid individually wrapped items, snack packs, and single-serve containers (e.g. juice boxes, cheese strips). Buy a larger quantity instead and put single portions in a reusable container.
Compost (food, yard clippings, pet waste)
Compost food and yard waste. Compost leftover food scraps with your yard waste helps create high-nutrient compost, or drop-off up to 5 gallons of food scraps per visit for free at the Bings Creek CVRD Recycling Depot. Gardeners have used compost for centuries to increase organic matter in the soil, improve the soil's physical properties and supply some of the essential nutrients for plant growth. Learn more at the Compost Education Centre’s website.
Compost pet waste. Thousands of tonnes of pet waste go to the landfill every year, often sealed in little plastic bags. In the landfill, it decomposes and generates methane gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas (about 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide) that contributes to global warming. Instead, compost it (in a special composter that you can build yourself) or bury it. And, if you are hooked up to the municipal sewage system, flush it (but not cat litter) so the sewage system can treat it. Or, hire a pet waste service to remove it (be sure to ask where they take it first!)
Plastic and paper
Avoid plastic bags. The average Canadian family uses and throws out 1,000 plastic bags each year. These bags can be reused or recycled, and should never go into the garbage can. Plastic bags never break down entirely. Instead, they turn into small plastic fragments that mix with our water, soil and food, harming us and animals. Every molecule of plastic ever created still exists. Watch this video to learn more: Sea of plastic.
Bring reusable cloth bags when you go shopping. Also bring smaller reusable bags for your produce and other groceries.
Reduce paper waste. Despite recycling programs, paper continues to be one of the largest components found in residential trash cans. One way to reduce paper waste is to stop it from coming into your home in the first place. Switch to reading your newspaper online instead of getting it delivered. Reduce your reliance on tissue paper and paper towels, and use cloth rags and handkerchiefs instead.
Say “no” to junk mail and the phone book. The average Canadian receives over 40 pounds of junk mail per year. Put a “No Junk Mail Please” sign on your mailbox, and letCanada Post and the Canadian Marketing Association know you don’t want to be contacted. Tell Canpages and Yellow Pages you don’t want a phone book delivered. Also, ask retailers not to send you catalogues.
Use unbleached paper products or products bleached with hydrogen peroxide or oxygen, which produce less pollution during papermaking.
Household products and cleaning supplies
Buy recycled. Most environmental impacts associated with the products we buy occur before we open the package, so buying products made from recycled materials is a huge part of getting to Zero Waste. Hundreds of everyday products, such as notebooks and copy paper, polar fleece, and yard and garden furniture, are made from recycled materials.
Close the loop on recycling by purchasing products made with recycled content. Look for products labeled "post-consumer", "pre-consumer" or "recycled” content.
Try reusable cotton diapers rather than disposable ones. Compare the cost of 3-4 dozen cloth diapers versus 7,000 disposables. A cloth diaper service costs about the same as buying disposables – and they wash and deliver for you!
Use an electric razor to save money on shaving cream, or use shaving soap instead of cream and buy razors with replaceable heads or blades.
Don't use dryer sheets for freshening your laundry. Try dryer balls, or better yet, use clotheslines for a great way to keep clothes, sheets and towels smelling clean. Fabrics will last longer if they're not tumbled around. After all, isn't dryer lint made up entirely of material from your clothes?
Purchase reusable items, like cloth napkins instead of paper ones, and reusable coffee filters.
Use reusable mops and dusters rather than ones with disposable attachments.
Remove makeup with a washcloth or facial sponge instead of using disposable cotton pads.
Choose products that are returnable, reusable, or refillable over single-use items. Honey, cream, peanut butter, coffee, shampoo, cosmetics, and dish and laundry soap are all available in refillable containers.
Purchase items in concentrated form, such as dish soap and laundry detergent, and use the amount suggesting on the label.
Don’t buy disposable and single-use items such as water bottles, plastic food wrap, plastic cutlery, paper coffee cups, plastic take-out food clamshells, razors and diapers. These items make up a large percentage of the total garbage we throw out (even though most can be recycled). Instead refill your own water bottle, and use re-sealable bags and food storage containers to keep food fresh. Bring your own containers to take-out food restaurants, or ask that your food be put into uncoated paper containers that can be composted.
Buy in bulk (e.g. shampoo, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit) using your own containers. If you can’t refill your own containers, consider buying in larger quantities (the overall amount of packaging is reduced when you buy larger volumes of a product).
Be aware of double-packaging. Some "bulk packages" are just individually wrapped items that have been packaged and sold as a bulk item.
Avoid individually wrapped items, snack packs, and single-serve containers (e.g. juice boxes, cheese strips). Buy a larger quantity instead and put single portions in a reusable container.本回答被网友采纳