Waste Reduction

When you use Mass Transit options instead of driving you are reducing wear and tear on your car, which can impact the amount of harmful chemicals you emit when traveling.

How items are reduced include:

• Having to replace the batteries in your car less often
• The amount of motor oil used in your car
• Making your tires last longer (make sure to practice proper tire maintanence)

Keep your car in shape too! Keep it clean to expose any dents or scratches that need attention prior to rusting. Have your engine timing, spark plugs, tire pressure, etc. checked for peak performance. This ensures you will get a long life out of your car and not get rid of it sooner than you would have to otherwise.

The City of Raleigh's transit options include the CAT Buses.

• Take your own reusable bag. For small items, tell clerk you don't need a bag.
  Don't use unnecessary bags for fruit items, etc.
• Give gifts that create no waste, make the gift and wrap presents in old maps, comics, etc.
• Mend clothing when possible, instead of buying new.
• Patronize businesses that have recycling and waste reduction programs (and tell the managers of stores that do not that you would like to see them start!).
• Buy natural fiber clothing, organic when possible. Wool, silk, linen, hemp and cotton are renewable resources. They wear longer and are generally more comfortable too. Avoid clothing which requires dry cleaning or seek out nontoxic dry cleaners.

• Plan meals carefully, use reusable containers for leftovers.
• Buy large sizes of glass, steel cans and plastic bottles to reduce the amount you have to recycle.
• Do not buy food or household products in plastic or Styrofoam containers if there is an alternative. These materials cannot be recycled and they do not breakdown in the environment (examples include egg cartons, vegetable oils, butter tubs, etc.).
• Purchase products with the least amount of toxicity.
• Make a list of what you need before you go shopping; this will reduce impulse buying.
• Avoid miniaturized "single-serving" items (like individually wrapped cheese slices).
• Look for items that are available in refillable containers.
• Buy in bulk; it is cheaper and eliminates small containers and excess packaging, which accounts for 50% of our domestic trash.
• Buy concentrated products, there is less packaging.
• At fast food places, take only what you need, one napkin, ketchup, salt, etc.
• Buy produce loose rather than putting it in plastic bags.
• Buy locally grown food and locally made products when possible. This saves transportation fuel and reduces packaging needed in transporting.
• Buy products in packaging that can be recycled in the Raleigh Recycling Program, such as aluminum or steel cans, glass jars or bottles, and plastic bottles.
• Other things can easily be changed, like using a sponge instead of a paper towel.
• Use low-energy fluorescent light bulbs when appropriate. They will last longer than incandescent ones, so less bulbs will be thrown out and it will cost less to replace them over time. (Please be sure to properly dispose of them at Wake County's Household Hazardous Waste Facility)
• Buy flyswatters instead of spray cans of insecticide.

• Share books, magazines, etc. with others (friends, community centers, day-care centers, retirement homes).
• Consider reading newspapers at the library.
• Learn about Junk Mail and how to reduce it.
• Double sided copies, electronic messages and greeting cards, remove name from mailing list and print preview before printing.
• Buy paper you can recycle. Avoid deeply colored papers, such as neon colors, which use dyes that are hard to remove. (Pastel colors are not a problem.)
• Install software for paperless faxing via your modem on your computer.

• Repair appliances when possible to give them a longer life.
• Repair and refinish old furniture to avoid buying new.
• To power any electronics, use rechargeable batteries, AC adapters and solar power, instead of one time use alkaline batteries which contain acid.
• Keep appliances in good working order. Replace filters as necessary on air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
• Clean the dust and lint off the coils on the fridge, freezer, AC, and dehumidifier. Doing so will reduce energy use and maintenance costs and will increase appliance life.
• Buy durable high quality goods for a longer life outside the landfill. Although durable goods may cost a little more at first, they will save you money and help save the environment in the long run.
• Consider renting or borrowing seldom used items.

• Avoid excessive lawn fertilizing and watering.
• Use slow growing species.
• Plant shade trees as a way to make the yard prettier, help absorb greenhouse gases, and reduce the need for expensive air conditioning. Trees can keep your home cool by reducing the amount of direct sunlight that hits the siding or windows.
• Consider ground cover rather than grass in high-shade areas. It's easier to maintain, needs less watering and doesn't require cutting or fertilizing.
• Perform a water audit on all hoses, couplings and timers. Leaky faucets and such can waste hundreds of gallons of water or more.
• Make sure that timers turn the water on only during low-sun periods (early morning and evening), and that the water is only turned on as long as is necessary to get the job done.
• Do not bother with bug zappers. Studies have shown them to be both energy-wasteful and ineffective. In many cases, they attract more bugs to the area than would have shown up without them!
• Do not forget outdoor appliances. Lawn movers will run better and cleaner with a new filter, a new spark plug and clean oil. (Please dispose of used oil properly!)