Munster Waste Management   

Some useful ideas to help you the Consumer to reduce unnecessary waste material.

   DOMESTIC WASTE: HOW TO MINIMISE IT.    

 

Consumer Recycling and Waste Reduction Ideas:-

        The following information provides simple ideas for Consumers on how to recycle and

        reduce waste and so help you to protect our Natural Environment. 

Supermarkets:
     Many supermarkets sponsor Redemption Centers that will take back:-

• containers for recycling,  
• steel and aluminum cans, 
• glass bottles and jars and 
• newspapers.

Some stores may have reverse vending machines, which give you money back 
as used containers are fed into them.

     Some Supermarkets also have a place to recycle:-

• used plastic
• grocery bags and
• film containers (plastic canisters that package the film).

Why not bring your own reusable cloth shopping bags instead

or last weeks plastic bags?

And if you buy just one or two items, try going without a bag 
altogether. The store pays for its bags, which means so do you, and 
in the end, so does the environment.
            

Dry Cleaners
            Many dry cleaners take back their plastic clothes bags. When you get 
            home and hang up your clothes, keep the plastic covers and recycle 
            them on your next trip to the dry cleaners -- rather than throw them 
            away. Some stores will also reuse clean hangers.

Reusing By Donating
            There are many items that even the most active recycler may throw 
            away because they are uncommon recyclables. Some of these items 
            include mattresses, furniture, clothing, appliances, electronics or 
            art materials. They can often be donated to local thrift stores and 
            non-profit groups to be repaired and reused.        

Source Reduction -- Make It Recyclable and Reusable
            While shopping, you can help the environment by selecting products 
            that use less packaging and are reusable or readily recyclable in 
            your community. When buying a product, stop and think, "Can this 
            item be recycled or reused?" If not, is there an alternative brand 
            or product that you can buy? By making these choices, you are using 
            your purchasing power to reward manufacturers that make recyclable 
            and reusable products, not products that are only disposable.

Try these reusable alternatives:
            Use a sponge instead of throwaway wipes
            Buy rechargeable batteries
            Buy cloth napkins that you can wash instead of paper you throw away
            Buy washable plates and cups for picnics instead of disposables
            Buy razors with replaceable blades
            Seek out reusable or refillable containers that hold shampoo, soap, 
            etc.
            Use plastic containers with lids instead of aluminum foil, plastic 
            bags or plastic wrap
            Rinse plastic bags and reuse them
            Buy Products Made of Recycled Materials

No recycling program is truly successful unless:-

1. Recyclables are collected

2. Transformed into marketable products and then

3. Purchased by you!

To create a demand for recycled products, make sure to purchase paper 
(computer, stationery, legal, white, envelopes and newspaper) that 
contain recycled materials. Ask store managers to stock products 

	    made with recycled materials and write to the manufacturers of the 
            products you buy and tell them you prefer that they use recycled 
            materials.

            When shopping, buy those items that say, "Made from recycled 
            materials" and have the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled 
            content. (Post-consumer content means any material that the public 
            has already used or recycled.) Beware, claims such as "environmentally 
            friendly", "eco-safe", "safe for the environment" or "natural" do 
            not necessarily mean that the product can be recycled or contains 
            recycled material!
            Thanks to today's technology and manufacturing, these products are 
            as high a quality (if not higher) than products that don't contain 
            recycled materials, and they look just as nice. Look for these items 
            for your home or business in your community:
            

	    Clothing and shoes
            Children's toys and playground equipment
            Garden tools
            Carpet and carpet pads
            Plastic lumber for planters, decks and benches
            Motor oil
            Floors and countertops
            Rain gutters
            Packaging materials
            Paper products like tissue and towels
            Cleaning supplies
            Writing or computer paper and envelopes
            Your choices and efforts can make a significant difference in the 
            success of San Diego and our nation's recycling programs!
             

            Avoid Excess Packaging and Buy In Bulk
            While it's true that some packaging is necessary for health and 
            shelf-life considerations, all too many manufacturers over-package 
            their products. This excess packaging costs consumers more money; 
            costs our environment more resources and energy; and costs our 
            landfills valuable space.
            So take a little extra care before you buy. Look for an alternative 
            product without packaging or the least amount of packaging and send 
            a message that you don't like waste. Also, avoid single-serving 
            items that are overly wrapped.
            When it makes sense, buy in bulk, but only purchase the amount you 
            will use within a reasonable time. You will avoid over-packaging and 
            save money, since larger quantities are generally discounted. Try 
            these alternatives next time you shop:
            Large box of cereal vs. individually wrapped snack pack of mini 
            boxes of cereal
            Pudding in a box vs. pudding in plastic cups which are then held 
            together by a cardboard carton
            Fresh vegetables you buy by the pound vs. shrink-wrapped vegetables 
            in Styrofoam containers
            1-gallon water jugs vs. 6-pack of individual 12-ounce plastic 
		bottles
            Condensed can of soup vs. microwavable single-portion soups