City of St. Louis Department of Streets Refuse Division Recycling Program

To reduce is the first priority in the waste reduction hierarchy. Using less in the first place, sometimes called source reduction, is the easiest way to solve America's mounting garbage problem. Source reduction means reducing the amount of material that enters the waste stream. It avoids disposal and pollution problems right from the start, and it conserves natural resources and energy. Reducing waste at the beginning means there will be less waste to be recycled or landfilled. Try some of these ideas at home, school or work today!

NOTE: The following information is also available as a downloadable PDF Flyer or Word document.

Dining

General

Home Decor

Packaging

Paper

Recycling Home

DINING

• Drink tap water instead of bottled water.
• Avoid disposables, such as paper and plastic cups, paper napkins and towels, and synthetic wipes.
• Cooking from scratch minimizes the waste generated by fast food and prepackaged meals (typically served and packaged in non-recyclable materials).
• Prepare only as much food as you need or want; at almost 12%, food is the third largest part of the United States' waste stream.
• Purchase fewer single-serving beverages and foods.
• Serve condiments from bulk dispensers (their original containers are typically recyclable, packaging from individual servings usually is not).

  GENERAL

• Based on what you can afford, buy the highest quality, most durable, and long-lasting products, particularly those that can be repaired or that come with useful warranties; then, take care of them to make them last even longer.
• Live in a smaller home.
• Replace recreational shopping. Try bird watching, cycling, gardening, walking, etc.
• Replacing incandescent light bulbs with high efficiency, compact fluorescent light bulbs will save money, conserve energy, and reduce the number of light bulbs ending up in the trash.
• Setting the washer cycle to 'delicate' for most materials will reduce wear on the motor and your clothing, so both will last longer.
• Share excess quantities with family, friends, and neighbors.
• Use only what is needed.

  HOME DÉCOR

• Decorate the home with natural materials (which can later be composted), particularly those that have already fallen to the ground, rather than disposable or plastic items. Try berries, branches, flowers, fruits, gourds, leaves, nuts, pinecones, seeds, twigs, vines, etc.
• Install carpet tile (aka squares) instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. Then, you'll need to replace on the worn or damaged tiles instead of an entire area or room.
• When buying decorative lights, purchase strands that are wired in parallel. If one bulb goes out, the others will still work, resulting in fewer disposals of "bad" strands.

  PACKAGING

• "Air bags" are typically 99.5% air, thus reducing the amount of material wasted (after punctured and disposed of) versus the volume needed for packaging protection.
• Ask store clerks to consolidate items into fewer bags or say "no" to bags not needed.
• Avoid buying products with excess packaging, packaged with nonrecycled content, packaged in nonrecyclable materials, packaged in composite materials (which are difficult to recycle), or individually packaged (which require more packaging per unit). Aside from generating waste, you pay more for this packaging.
• Buy in bulk to avoid wasteful packaging. Products in larger, economy-size, or concentrated form use less packaging (and often cost less per ounce).
• Cornstarch packaging "peanuts" can either be reused or will completely dissolve in water, making them a better alternative than non-biodegradable Styrofoam materials.
• Crumbled or shredded magazines, newspaper, office paper, etc. can be used as packing material, and can be recycled afterwards.
• Pack with popcorn.
• When making a purchase, request bags that can be recycled.

  PAPER

• Avoid printing blank pages at the beginning or end; eliminate blank pages in documents.
• Backup files and records on disks or portable drives, rather than paper.
• Broadcast information via a bulletin board rather than copies per person.
• Cancel unwanted mailings or subscriptions.
• Copy and/or print double-sided.
• Correspond by egreeting cards, email, and listservs, which save at least an envelope.
• Edit on the screen, rather than by printing and editing; check spelling and format on the screen, rather than by printing numerous drafts.
• Format documents to print on fewer pages, by adjusting font or margin sizes to avoid printing the last couple of sentences on an additional page.
• Instead of inserting cards and letters in envelopes, use postcards (which also reduces the price of postage needed).
• Let preferred companies know to use your information for their inhouse list only, that you do not want your contact information given, sold, or shared with others.
• Print drafts on scrap or used paper.
• Opt out of those unsolicited credit card offers by filing online at https://www.optoutprescreen.com or calling 1.888.5.OPTOUT (888.567.8688).
• Purchase and use items with recycled content, particularly post-consumer.
• Read books, magazines, newspapers, etc. online.
• Send reports, documents, attachments, etc. by email; send faxes from a computer.
• Share central or electronic files rather than using several copies for individuals.
• Use ink and toner refills, many of which are concentrated forms that use less packaging.
• When faxing, reduce the size of the fax cover sheet by half; use small, self-adhesive fax transmittal notes; or use ink stamps to note fax information.
• Click here to find out how to reduce junk mail.
• Opt out of unsolicited local papers with the assistance of http://www.stopmylocalpaper.org.

WAYS TO REVIVE OR EXTEND THE LIFE OF PRODUCTS YOU HAVE

Sometimes things aren't trash, so much as we're simply tired of them or they're broken. Below are links to some websites where you can find information on how to freshen up or repair what you already have.

Use slipcovers over your pillows. Linen stores (e.g., Bed Bath and Beyond) have been offering an increasing variety of colors and patterns. You could also make your own, whether by sewing or simply tying around the pillow in a decorative knot.

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