SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The
3 R's
The
Environmental Protection Agency has determined
a three tiered approach for managing solid
waste. Each of these should be practiced
to reduce the amount material headed for
final disposal. They are in order of importance:
REDUCE – The best way
to manage solid waste.
Don’t
create waste in the first place! Buy only
what you need. Use all that you buy. Avoid
heavily packaged products. Avoid disposable
items – like paper plates and plastic silverware.
Buy the largest size package for those
items that you use are often. Refuse bags
at fast food restaurants or stores when
you only buy a few items. When taking care
of the lawn – leave grass clippings on
the lawn instead of bagging and throwing
out. Start a compost pile for grass clippings,
tree trimmings and fruit and vegetable
scraps. Ask yourself, "What will be
left when I am through with this item?" or "How
much trash do I have to throw away just
to get to the item?" To stop receiving
garbage in the mail, write or call to get
off junk mail lists:
Direct
Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P. O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
Phone: 212-790-1400
REUSE - The better way
to manage solid waste.
Reuse
items – use them over and over until they
are completely worn out. Lunch bags can
be brought home and used for many more
lunches. Borrow or share items you don’t
use very often. Donate unwanted items to
thrift stores or charitable organizations.
Have a yard sale. Repair items, instead
of throwing away and buying new. Refill
bottles. Bring grocery store bags back
and use the same ones the next time you
go shopping. Use your imagination, not
the trash can!
RECYCLE -
The good way to manage solid waste.
Recycle means
taking something old and making it into
something new. In Seminole County, all
residents who live in a single family home
can recycle right in front of their house.
Those residents who live in apartments
or condominiums can drop off their recyclables
at several different locations. Old newspapers,
#1 and #2 plastic bottles, green, clear
and brown glass bottles and jars, aluminum
and steel cans can all be recycled at the
curb. Simply rinse out containers and remove
lids. That’s it – it’s very simple and
very worthwhile. Not only does it keep
items out of the landfill, recycling conserves
natural resources. For example, making
newspaper out of old newspaper saves a
valuable natural resource – trees.
Many
other items can also be recycled – such
as old computers, televisions, tires and
old appliances. Use the yellow pages or
internet to research. Pre-cycle. This
means only buy food or beverages in containers
you know are accepted in your recycling
program. When away from home, hold onto
your containers until you get home to recycle
them. Buy items made from recycled products.
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3 R's