Remember, a lot of these items are made from plastic, had to be delivered by a truck and will end up in a landfill once we have used them one time. Skip the plastic straw altogether or buy reusable metal ones instead. Keep a set of silverware at work along with a plate, bowl and cup that you can wash and reuse. Some businesses will even give you a discount on your coffee for bringing your own mug. Whenever possible, try to avoid single-use coffee cups, disposable utensils, straws and napkins. Avoid single-use food and drink containers and utensils The organic matter will also act as a sponge to absorb more water, meaning you might not need to water your plants as much, saving you money and time. You’ll save on fertilizers and if you grow your own vegetables, you’ll likely see improved yields.

Depending on the conditions, you may have compost in 3 to 12 months to use in your garden. While composting requires more effort than the previously mentioned lifestyle changes, it will provide you with a beneficial return on your investment of time and effort. Compost it!ĭid you know as much as 25% of the items in your trash could potentially be removed from the waste stream and composted in your back yard? Your fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings and leaves can all be composted. Learn more about recycling programs in Delaware at 4. Resins 4, 5 and 7 are now accepted in most programs in Delaware.” Plastics labeled with a 3/PVC and 6/PS are generally not recyclable in Delaware. According to Delaware’s Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances website, “Containers labeled with a 1 or a 2 are almost always accepted because they are the highest value resins. Not all plastics are recyclable in Delaware, so check labels before your buy. You can reduce the amount of waste you produce by purchasing products that come with less packaging and/or come in packaging that can be recycled. Many grocery stores will provide a 5 cent per bag refund so you’ll save a few cents while reducing your usage of one-time-use plastic bags. Try writing BAGS on the top of your grocery list to help you remember, or keep them in the back seat where they aren’t as easy to forget. Just like a reusable water bottle, you may already have a reusable grocery bag, though it’s often forgotten at home. Use reusable grocery bags, and not just for groceries While most cans and bottles can be recycled, they require a lot of energy to be produced, shipped to the bottling facility and then to the store for purchase. This will eliminate the one-time use containers they come in. By taking your own water with you, you’ll also reduce your chances of purchasing more expensive beverages on-the-go. You might already have a reusable water bottle, but do you use it all the time? You can put that reusable bottle to use, save money and reduce waste. Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go

Trash it 5.0