Waste Reduction

The 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – are often our first introduction to going green.  If you are regular recycler, you might think “been there, done that” and skip the projects below entirely.

But we challenge you to look through the projects and test whether you are truly a waste reduction champion.  Do you know what to do with old pills, or reduce junk mail? Or what about the items you can bring to the Transfer Station?

Our Waste Reduction projects go beyond the 3Rs to help you become a true green champion.

Waste Reduction Projects

Raised Garden Beds for Your Yard

Are you exploring the idea of getting rid of your lawn, and growing perennials or vegetables? Imagine this: you can be dressed for work or play, and come home and View Project

Compost Food and Yard Trim

All of your non-meat food waste and much of your lawn waste, can be turned into rich compost for your lawn and garden. It’s easy to do and saves money on fertilizers and other amendments. View Project

Recycle clothes, shoes, and other textiles

As you decide what to keep or throw in your wardrobe, we recommend not just disposing your old clothes into the trash.  There are other things you can do with your textiles that will keep you in-style and eco-conscious. View Project

Gift Differently

Gifting green means thinking about the impact to the environment of what we buy, as well as, how we buy our gifts. View Project

Recycle Your Lawn Mower

Montgomery County makes it very easy for you to recycle your old lawn mowers!  View Project

BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag

We all know it’s better to use reusable bags than ask for paper or plastic. In fact, Montgomery County has a 5 cent tax on disposable bags, because of how damaging they are to the environment. View Project

Stop the Junk Mail and Use Paperless Billing

How much of the mail in your mailbox do you really want to look at, and how much goes straight to the recycling bin? The average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail every year. View Project

Recycle Everything! (Well almost)

Heating or cooling a house when no one’s home is like burning money. And since heating and cooling account for 48% of household energy use, you’re talking real money. View Project

Use Water Filters and Reusable Bottles

A 2012 study found that on average, bottled water costs about $1.22/gallon nationwide and 300x the cost of a gallon of tap water. View Project

Conduct a Home Waste Audit

The first step towards making positive environmental changes is to first understand what you are currently contributing to the waste stream.  Create a baseline – a one-week snapshot of what you consume, what you throw away, and what gets recycled. View Project