Prepare
Many people can attest to the ease in which they throw away their trash. Nearly everywhere they go, a trash bin waits, tempting an improper disposal of waste, making it very hard to dispose of waste responsibly, but this doesn’t have to be the case. By analyzing daily waste habits within the scope of Reducing and Reusing you can form new waste free habits, but precycling takes preparation. So use the following examples to help bring about new personal daily habits.
Do you find yourself stopping to buy a coffee regularly?
• By bringing your own reusable coffee cup, you could significantly reduce your overall contributions to the waste system. Remember paper coffee cups are not recyclable and end up in the landfill.
Do you typically buy paper napkins? Or paper towels? Did you know that tissue and bath tissue are not recyclable?
• Napkins, tissue, and paper towels are not recyclable. By choosing to use a cloth towel when you are accustomed to using a napkin or paper towel, you could again significantly reduce your individual contribution to our landfills.
How do you take notes in class?
• By taking notes in class on your computer you could avoid a significant amount of paper. You could also request that professors distribute handouts electronically.
Do you purchase meals on campus? Do you think about the packaging of those meals?
• When purchasing meals on campus you could see if your favorite vendors would allow you to supply your own "to go" container, rather than using the common non-recyclable clam shell. You could also seek out vendors using fully compostable "to go" containers. Or you could pack in your own lunch.
Do you purchase soda frequently?
• If you like drinking soda, you may be surprised to know that you can make your own soda, saving you money, and saving the environment a significant amount of aluminum cans or plastic bottles that, at best, could end up in the recycling. Not to mention the amount of energy and resources it would take to manufacture the soda and ship it to a store near you.
Do you purchase bottled water often or even occasionally?
• The amount of plastic bottles that do not end up being recycled is huge. The costs of bottling and transporting water is phenomenal. Many plastic bottles that do not end up recycled, end up in our oceans, creating giant swirling garbage patches. By using a reusable water bottle you can save your wallet and the environment.
What do you do with large pieces of packaging Styrofoam?
• If you have to purchase something that comes with a lot of Styrofoam packaging like a printer or appliance, there is a resource in Portland that will take your Styrofoam without charge for processing; it is PLC Recycling Centers. Check out their link
Are you aware that composting exists conveniently on campus?
• Composting is a great way to divert food waste and other debris from the landfill. Composting is available on campus. To learn more about composting, check out Metro for what can be composted and ways that you may want to compost at home as well.
Are you aware that more and more common products are emerging that are compostable?
• There are many emerging products that are compostable. For example, if you use plastic bags, there are kitchen bags available made of completely compostable material. You could bring your lunch in these bags and dispose of the bag in an on-campus compost.
Do you know how many bottles of laundry soap you go through in a year?
• Laundry soap is simple and easy to make at home without getting harsh chemicals in your soap and creating the empty plastic bottle trail. See our link at C Scout for more information on making your own soap.
Do you buy cereal regularly?
• Many grocery stores sell granola and other cereals in bulk. If you found a cereal you love in this form, you could eliminate the plastic the cereal comes in as well as the typical cardboard box that hold the plastic pouch.