Precycling
Precycling is about reducing waste by avoiding items that will generate it, or selecting certain items that will generate less, or acquiring items that can be reused for something else. It’s just another way to lighten our environmental footprint that covers a myriad of possibilities, but being an avid “Precycler” can also save you money too.
Concentrated Products
In our consumer culture, we’re taught to believe that more is good, but sometimes less is better. Products such as washing detergents are widely available in concentrated forms, packing as much punch as their water heavy counterparts. Concentrated products reduce packaging, weight and as a bonus – less transport related emissions.
Electronic vs. Paper
So many magazines and newspapers are now online. While it takes electricity to view them, the amount of energy involved is less than the paper based product, plus there’s nothing to throw out once you’re done reading. Make the Internet part of your paper reduction diet!
Wrappings, Foils
Plastic wrap is a great invention, but one that haunts us once we’re done with it. Some forms can be recycled, but others wind up in landfill where they’ll slowly decompose for decades if not hundreds of years. A sturdy container with an airtight lid can take the place of plastic wrap in some cases. Metal foil is key for baking and grilling but it’s not easily reusable or recyclable. Try switching to non-coated metal pans for several more uses.
Bags, Cans and Jars
Bags are everywhere – and not just disposable shopping bags. Many of the products we buy come in some sort of bag. While we can easily obtain reusable bags, bagged products can be hard to avoid, such as bread bags. A shocking 87% of all single use plastic baggies end up in the landfill or worse our waterways and oceans. Jars and other containers can be very useful for holding buttons, screws or any other small loose items where you may usually buy a container dedicated to the task.
Stopping Junk Mail
Our mailboxes tend to become the graveyard of many trees. The average adult in the USA receives a whopping 41 pounds of junk mail a year. Visit www.41pounds.org to learn how you can be removed from many of these lists.
10 Dos & Don’ts of Precycling
1. Do bring reusable bags to the store with you. Cloth is the best, but recycled poly-bags work as well. Remember to wash your reusable baggies twice monthly.
2. Do buy in bulk. If you buy products in bulk or in large sizes and quantities, you can put them in smaller containers as you need them and this uses less containers.
3. Do buy products with the least amount of packaging or none at all. Items packed in multiple containers may look nice, but these are a waste of resources.
4. Do buy products packed in recycled packaging. If you have to use a container, it might as well be green. Additionally, you help support green corporations. (Important: make sure you look for the recycled symbol or post consumer content)
5. Don’t buy disposable items (plastic plates, cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) These items only fill up the landfill. (Purchase rechargeable batteries as these can be easily recycled)
6. Do buy less paper towels and napkins or none at all. Use cloth ones that can be rewashed hundreds of times.
7. Do buy long life and /or concentrated items. This saves on packaging, in some cases the cost as well as product. (Important: use products labeled without Sulfates and Phosphates. These products can harm the environment)
8. Don't purchase Styrofoam! It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down in our landfill. Polystyrene contains traces of styrene monomer. When food is heated in polystyrene container the monomer is extracted and enter the digestive system of the consumer. Products made from polystyrene will have a (#6) on the container.
9. Do buy items in cardboard, aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic containers marked 1 and 2. These containers can be recycled more easily. At this point, all metals can be recycled in your bin. “Toss them in”
10. Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land. Purchase long-term use plastics that do not contain Bisphenol A (BPA) or Phthalates (Plasticizers).
Forward thinking
Related to the above points, when considering purchasing a product, think ahead to what it could be used for once it’s no longer suitable for the original purpose. Reusing a resealable Gladware container that once held sandwich meats. Using glass jelly jars for drinking glasses or storage.
Once your item can no longer be reused, simply toss it into your recycling bin.
That’s Precycling 101!
Concentrated Products
In our consumer culture, we’re taught to believe that more is good, but sometimes less is better. Products such as washing detergents are widely available in concentrated forms, packing as much punch as their water heavy counterparts. Concentrated products reduce packaging, weight and as a bonus – less transport related emissions.
Electronic vs. Paper
So many magazines and newspapers are now online. While it takes electricity to view them, the amount of energy involved is less than the paper based product, plus there’s nothing to throw out once you’re done reading. Make the Internet part of your paper reduction diet!
Wrappings, Foils
Plastic wrap is a great invention, but one that haunts us once we’re done with it. Some forms can be recycled, but others wind up in landfill where they’ll slowly decompose for decades if not hundreds of years. A sturdy container with an airtight lid can take the place of plastic wrap in some cases. Metal foil is key for baking and grilling but it’s not easily reusable or recyclable. Try switching to non-coated metal pans for several more uses.
Bags, Cans and Jars
Bags are everywhere – and not just disposable shopping bags. Many of the products we buy come in some sort of bag. While we can easily obtain reusable bags, bagged products can be hard to avoid, such as bread bags. A shocking 87% of all single use plastic baggies end up in the landfill or worse our waterways and oceans. Jars and other containers can be very useful for holding buttons, screws or any other small loose items where you may usually buy a container dedicated to the task.
Stopping Junk Mail
Our mailboxes tend to become the graveyard of many trees. The average adult in the USA receives a whopping 41 pounds of junk mail a year. Visit www.41pounds.org to learn how you can be removed from many of these lists.
10 Dos & Don’ts of Precycling
1. Do bring reusable bags to the store with you. Cloth is the best, but recycled poly-bags work as well. Remember to wash your reusable baggies twice monthly.
2. Do buy in bulk. If you buy products in bulk or in large sizes and quantities, you can put them in smaller containers as you need them and this uses less containers.
3. Do buy products with the least amount of packaging or none at all. Items packed in multiple containers may look nice, but these are a waste of resources.
4. Do buy products packed in recycled packaging. If you have to use a container, it might as well be green. Additionally, you help support green corporations. (Important: make sure you look for the recycled symbol or post consumer content)
5. Don’t buy disposable items (plastic plates, cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) These items only fill up the landfill. (Purchase rechargeable batteries as these can be easily recycled)
6. Do buy less paper towels and napkins or none at all. Use cloth ones that can be rewashed hundreds of times.
7. Do buy long life and /or concentrated items. This saves on packaging, in some cases the cost as well as product. (Important: use products labeled without Sulfates and Phosphates. These products can harm the environment)
8. Don't purchase Styrofoam! It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down in our landfill. Polystyrene contains traces of styrene monomer. When food is heated in polystyrene container the monomer is extracted and enter the digestive system of the consumer. Products made from polystyrene will have a (#6) on the container.
9. Do buy items in cardboard, aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic containers marked 1 and 2. These containers can be recycled more easily. At this point, all metals can be recycled in your bin. “Toss them in”
10. Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land. Purchase long-term use plastics that do not contain Bisphenol A (BPA) or Phthalates (Plasticizers).
Forward thinking
Related to the above points, when considering purchasing a product, think ahead to what it could be used for once it’s no longer suitable for the original purpose. Reusing a resealable Gladware container that once held sandwich meats. Using glass jelly jars for drinking glasses or storage.
Once your item can no longer be reused, simply toss it into your recycling bin.
That’s Precycling 101!