- “Precycle.” Make smart choices before you purchase an item. Try to buy items in bulk or that are packaged in material that can be recycled at your transfer station.
- Start composting. It isn’t difficult, doesn’t have to cost money, drastically reduces the weight of your trash, and provides a valuable soil amendment for the houseplants or garden. There are many helpful hints on the web; type in “Composting in Maine”.
- Grasscycle! When you mow your lawn don’t rake up the clippings. As they decay, they actually improve your lawn’s health. If you have an excess of clippings, let them dry out and then add to your compost pile. (Green grass will stifle your compost pile and cause it to go anaerobic, which means it’ll get smelly.)
- Composting at the office is easier than you think. Using a bin like the Earth Machine requires very little outdoor space and not a lot of effort to keep organic material out of the waste stream and convert it into valuable compost.
- To save water, rinse out recyclable cans or jars after you finish washing dishes. Even if you have a dishwasher there are always odds dishes or pans that need to be cleaned.
- Rain barrels are also an effective way to conserve water. 55-gallon plastic barrels are a good way to collect water and are available in many locations around the state. Keep an eye out around town or search the web for “55 gallon drums in Maine”. Some sellers have also adapted these for composting!
- Remember to take your reusable bags when shopping. Keep them near your keys, in your vehicle, or by the door as a reminder. Reusable bags can be used anywhere, not just grocery stores.
- Have a lawn sale! Your “unwanteds” are most likely someone’s treasure!!
- Donate clothing to Goodwill, Salvation Army or a reuse/thrift shop if your community has one. Animal Shelters are always in need of blankets, sheets and towels.
- If during a renovation or construction project you find you have left-over items, donate extra building supplies to a building reuse center such as Maine Building Exchange or Habitat for Humanity. Check the internet for other options or for a location near you.
- Used motor oil is often accepted at automobile garages or transfer stations. This is reused as fuel for heating many facilities including some transfer stations.
- Packing peanuts in the bottom of flowerpots are lighter than stones and work just as well. You can also take them to a shipping/mailing business for reuse.
- Old leather shoes or cooking pots make excellent outdoor flower planters, and they are cute to boot!
- Skip the polystyrene cup at your local coffee shop and bring your own reusable one.
- Take your plastic bags (from any retailer) back to the grocery store for recycling. Just be sure to remove any paper receipts.
- Visit your transfer station to observe their collection system. This visit will allow you to see what is accepted and provide you with a good idea of how to load your vehicle for efficient drop-off as well as provide you the opportunity to ask questions.
- Remember to recycle when you are away from home. Many festivals and fairs now offer recycling opportunities. Or bring your recyclables home with you from a picnic, day at the beach or vacation if you aren’t able to recycle on location.
- Crush cans and plastic containers so they take up less space. Keeping the cover attached to cans by a little bit and then crushing it inside will eliminate sharp edges and increase the likelihood that the cover will also get recycled with the can and not slip through the cracks of the equipment.
- Look for a scrap iron dealer in your community before hauling your valuable metals to the landfill. Most will pay you for your material.
- Recycle your rechargeable batteries. Most cell phone, hardware, and office supply stores offer this service. Or go to www.call2recycle.org to find a drop-off location in your area.
- Recycle at your workplace. If your workplace doesn’t provide this service, volunteers can bring recyclables home for recycling.
- Recycled newspaper is worth more to your town than mixed paper by around 60%, so next time you need to start a fire in the wood stove, consider using unwanted mail or boxboard instead of newspaper and put the newspaper in the recycle bin.
- www.Earth911.com is a resource for identifying locations to recycle unwanted items including computers, paints, and other odd items.
- Never throw a compact fluorescent light bulb in the trash. Most hardware stores offer free return of unbroken CFLs.
- The Household Hazardous Waste Depot in Lewiston and Riverside Household Hazardous Program in Portland are open to anyone with this type of waste for a small fee. See websites for details.
(Lewiston) http://www.avcog.org/whats_new.aspx?wn=53
(Portland) http://www.recycling.portlandmaine.gov/hhw.asp - Proper disposal of prescription medication will protect the environment. Check website for a drop off site near you: http://www.safemeddisposal.com/
Presented by the Maine Recycling Program
