Produce Less Waste by Practicing the 3 R's

What are the 3 R's? 1. Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. 2. Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it. 3. Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content. Reduce * Resource Conservation Challenge The Resource Conservation Challenge is EPA's national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently.Waste prevention, or "source reduction," means consuming and throwing away less. It includes: * purchasing durable, long-lasting goods; * seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as possible; * redesigning products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after its original use. Source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management and goes a long way toward protecting the environment. Ways to Reuse * Using durable coffee mugs. * Using cloth napkins or towels. * Refilling bottles. * Donating old magazines or surplus equipment. * Reusing boxes. * Turning empty jars into containers for leftover food. * Purchasing refillable pens and pencils. * Participating in a paint collection and reuse program. * Reusing items -- by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them -- also reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again. Provided by: http://www.epa.gov