It’s Easy Being Green: Simple Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Practices

Information provided by HandsOn Twin Cities and RethinkRecycling.com

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

• Currently each person in the Twin Cities metro area generates almost 7 pounds of waste each day, collectively that’s enough to fill the Metrodome 11 times every year!

• Where does our garbage go?

40% of our garbage is recycled.

32% is processed at waste-to-energy facilities into electricity or burned for fuel.

26% is landfilled in Minnesota and other states.

2% must be specially managed because of its hazardous or toxic content.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle• Every year each household gets over 39 pounds

of unwanted, unsolicited mail.

• Recycling is an important component to managing our waste problem, but alone, it is not enough.

• Nearly 30% of our trash is packaging. Much of it is cardboard that can be reused or recycled.

• About one-third of what we throw away at home is recyclable through curbside programs.

• Our recycling rate in Minnesota has not significantly increased since 1998.

Why Do Your Part?

Reducing, reusing, recycling:

• Saves natural resources

• Saves you money

• Less trash going into landfills

• Good for the planet!

True or False

• Nearly 1 billion credit card solicitations are sent to consumers every year.

False, 3 billion!• Buying items in bulk (large amount) reduces

trash.True, less packaging thrown away

• Yogurt cups and pizza boxes are recyclable.False, not currently accepted with curbside

recycling• It is against state law for haulers to pick up

recyclables and not recycle them.True, what you put out for recycling is recycled

REDUCE

•Reduce junk mail

•Use less plastic

•Buy smart

Reduce Junk Mail

Is there an unwanted mail problem in the U.S.?! Let’s look at the numbers…

Shipped: 5.89 tonsRecycled: 2.28 tonsGarbage: 3.61 tons

Start smallCredit cards – www.optoutprescreen.comAdvertising mail - www.dmachoice.org

Manage your mailSort – Shred - Recycle

Use Less Plastic

Plastics can take up to 700 years to start to break down in landfills.

• Use cloth bags for shopping (reuse or recycle plastic bags – www.itsinthebagmn.org)

• Use reusable beverage bottle

• Use silverware instead of plasticware

Buy Smart

30% of trash is packaging.

Tips to buy smart:• Look for less packaging• Buy bulk whenever possible• Buy recycled products

“Post-consumer” means material has been used by consumers or businesses and collected in a recycling program.

Product Package Comparisons

Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings

YogurtBulk: $3.09

Pre-packaged: $4.00

Cost Difference: $.91

ApplesauceBulk: $2.63

Pre-packaged: $4.86

Cost Difference: $2.23

Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings

Hot CocoaBulk: $2.99

Pre-packaged: $3.96

Cost Difference: $.97

PopcornBulk: $1.29

Pre-packaged: $4.77

Cost Difference: $3.48

Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings

OreosBulk: $2.88

Pre-packaged: $7.47

Cost Difference: $4.59

Minute MaidBulk: $1.50

Pre-packaged: $3.49

Cost Difference: $1.99

Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings

Bulk Items Pre-Packaged

Total: $14.38 Total: $28.55

Difference in Cost: $14.17

REUSE

•Shop used

•Greening your events

•Creative ways to reuse

Shop UsedIn Hennepin County, 32 million pounds of usable clothing & household goods is thrown away every year.

• Borrow, rent or shop used first.

• Shop thrift stores, garage sales.

• Donate your unwanted items so others can shop used.

Greening Your Events

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day household waste increases more than 25%.

• Send invites through email or make your own• Use reusable tableware: dishes, silverware,

napkins.• Buy snacks in bulk when possible.• Determine if you want to give gifts.

Creative Ways to ReuseIf we all wrap 3 gifts each year in reused paper, we’d save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Look around your home for materials that can be used as an alternative to wrapping paper:

– Fabric– Newspaper– Stickers, ribbon– Silk flowers– Etc!!

Creative Ways to Reuse

Creative Ways to Reuse

Creative Ways to Reuse

• Jar = vase

• Old sweater or t-shirt = pillow

• Basket or wooden box = plant container

• Plastic food containers = storage

• Other ideas?

RECYCLE

•Basic recycling

•Increase recycling

•Paper

Basic Recycling

About one third of what is thrown away can be recycled.

Twin City area recyclers accept paper, metal, glass, plastic.

Check with your county to learn more about recycling.

Preparation Tips:– Remove all caps, lids and pumps– Give a good rinse– Okay to leave on labels– Do not put recyclables in plastic bags (use bins or paper bags)

Increase Recycling

I already recycle cans, bottles and newspapers, what else can I recycle?

Metal/Aluminum/Steel

Glass

Plastic

Paper

PaperAbout 21% of Minnesota’s garbage is recyclable paper.

•Mail, office and school papers•Magazines and catalogs•Newspapers and inserts•Phone books•Shredded paper in closed paper bags•Cardboard boxes•Cereal, cracker, pasta, cake boxes •Boxes from toothpaste, medications, etc.

TIP FOR BOXES:

If it goes in the cupboard, it’s recyclable.

If it goes in the fridge, freezer, or microwave it’s not.

Discussion

What surprised you most about what you have learned?

What two actions will you take to reduce, reuse or recycle?

Thank You! This information was provided by HandsOn Twin Cities’ Community

P.O.W.E.R. (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) grant to educate residents about waste reduction and recycling.

SOURCES: www.RethinkRecycling.com, Hennepin County Environmental ServicesCommunity P.O.W.E.R. grants funded by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board.

Next Steps• An important part of this project is to determine if

you changed reduce-reuse-recycle behaviors as a result of this information.

• In a few weeks we will ask you to complete a short 8-question survey.

Resources

Remove from mailing lists:www.optoutpresscreen.com (credit cards)www.dmachoice.org (advertising mail)

Recycling plastic bagswww.itsinthebagmn.org

Reduce Wastewww.reduce.org

Minnesota Pollution Control Agencywww.pca.state.mn.us

Recycling Association of Minnesotawww.recycleminnesota.org

Twin Cities Free Marketwww.twincitiesfreemarket.org

Do it Green! Minnesotawww.doitgreen.org

Anoka Countywww.co.anoka.mn.us

Carver Countywww.co.carver.mn.us

Dakota Countywww.co.dakota.mn.us

Hennepin Countywww.co.hennepin.mn.us

Ramsey Countywww.co.ramsey.mn.us

Washington Countywww.co.washington.mn.us

www.RethinkRecycling.comYour go-to guide for waste & recycling in the Twin Cities