• Check your municipalities recycling guidelines; recycling varies by location.
• Be conscious when purchasing – How was it made? What is it made of? How long will it last? How will it be reused, donated, recycled or disposed?
• Donate, give away, gift, etc. unused items in your household instead of throwing them away; there is no away, items have to go somewhere…
• Use public resources, such as the library, to get books and movies instead of buying them.
• Avoid single-use items. Carry your own set of reusable utensils, reusable water bottle, cloth napkins, etc.
• Don’t leave the water running when you are not actively using it.

Recycling Reminders and Tips

• Look for special recycling programs (razors, plastic film, makeup, etc.) in your community.
• Sign up for free special recycling programs through TerraCycle®.
• Set up a recycling bin in your home so that you do not have to sort through your trash for recycled goods.

• Avoiding printing as whenever possible. When you must print, use functions such as double-sided printing, eco-mode, or print in black & white only.
• Purchase recycled paper made from post-consumer waste.
• Use scrap paper or old/leftover notebooks and journals for notes.
• If possible, take notes on an electronic device.
• For zero waste school supplies, we recommend Wisdom Supply Co.

• Weatherize your home. Use the subsidies and incentives available to you to improve the energy efficiency of your house.
• Bundle up in the winter. Wear sweaters indoors, to use less heat.
• Set your thermostat to an efficient temperature/cycle
• Use fans instead of air conditioning. As much as you can, use less air conditioning.
• Unplug all any appliance not in use. Simply turning appliances “off” does not stop power use; they should be unplugged.
• Use natural light from a window instead of turning the lights on
• Turn off any lights when you leave a room or office

• Eat Less Meat. Of all the foods, meat has the highest ecological footprint. The less meat you eat, the better off you leave the planet.
• Eat Seasonal. Out-of-season foods usually come from far-away places and have larger food miles attached to them. Whenever you can, buy from Farmers Markets, or join a CSA (Community Support Agriculture) in your area. This is a good way to ensure you are eating both locally and seasonally.
• Grow something. Try to grow at least some of your food—even if it’s just herbs.
• Eliminate single-use utensils, paper towels, plastic bags and other commonly used items. Opt for reusable items instead.
• Compost food scraps. Food waste which ends up in a landfill releases methane gas which is 23x more potent than carbon dioxide, contributing further to the warming of our planet. Learn how to compost at home.
• Cook instead of ordering food. If ordering out, request your food to not come in Styrofoam.
• Use leftover fruit and vegetable scraps in smoothies, sauces and soups.
• Repurpose glass containers and jars.

• Purchase recycled toilet paper or invest in a bidet.
• Use reusable cotton rounds.
• DIY face masks or cleansers, or use a facial cleansing bar.
• Use shampoo and conditioning bars.
• Use a menstrual cup or reusable pads.
• Take shorter showers.

• Opt to walk or bike, instead of taking the car, to travel locally.
• Use public transportation whenever possible.
• Use stairs rather than elevators when physically able.
• Do not use automatic entry/exit doors unless physically necessary.