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Reuse

Reusing an item, or its packaging, instead of throwing it away is a really simple step you can take to help reduce the amount of trash you are, personally, adding to the landfills.

What you can do.

If you get Chinese food for dinner and your entreé or soup comes in a plastic container with a lid, don't throw it away when you are finished eating. Instead, clean it up in the dishwasher and it will be ready for many additional uses. This is especially important when the container is made of a plastic that is not recyclable.

Another good example is a plastic soft drink cup from a fast food restaurant. When you are finished with the drink, you don’t have to just throw the cup, lid and straw into the trash. You can wash it and use it again.

Keep a few in the cupboard and before leaving the house to run errands or go on a trip, fill one up with water or soda from the fridge. This can save you a lot of money, too. Fountain drinks and bottled water from fast food restaurants or fillings stations are expensive. So, this is a really easy way to save plastic from going into the landfill and money at the same time.

What doesn't help.

Sure, reusing a plastic grocery bag to clean out the cat box or pick up after your dog, is technically reusing it, but you are really just throwing more plastic into the landfills. Recycle your plastic grocery bags; don't throw them away.

Just think before you toss things out. Ask yourself what you can use an item for instead of throwing it in the trash.