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Be Waste Wise. What can I do?. Americans produce an average of 4.3 pounds of waste every year. To lower this amount you can: Buy less packaging. Re-use waste items. Recycle and buy recycled goods. Compost. How do I buy less packaging?.
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What can I do? • Americans produce an average of 4.3 pounds of waste every year. • To lower this amount you can: • Buy less packaging. • Re-use waste items. • Recycle and buy recycled goods. • Compost.
How do I buy less packaging? • Purchase long-lasting, easy to repair, reusable products. • Buy items in recyclable packaging. • Buy items with recycled content, even if they cost more. • Buy products that have the least amount of wrapping.
How can I re-use products? • Re-use household waste items to minimize environmental impact. • Buy beverages in reusable glass and plastic bottles. • Share old clothing and used furniture. • Have yard sales or give away leftover paint, lumber or other materials.
Why recycle? • More than half of all household waste is recyclable. • Recycling: • Saves natural resources. • Uses less energy than new production. • Produces less waste than production from virgin materials.
How do I get started recycling? • Inquire about your nearest recycling center or program. • Find out what materials they accept. • Set-up a process for sorting recyclables at your home. • Involve your whole family in recycling.
What is composting? • A controlled, natural process that breaks down organic material. • The end product is referred to as humus or compost. • Humus or compost is a good soil amendment.
What can I compost? • Leaves • Grass clippings • Straw • Certain food waste • Paper
What about food wastes? Do compost: • Fruit and vegetable peelings and scraps. • Coffee grounds and tea bags. Don’t compost: • Meat products and scraps. • Dairy products. • Whole eggs.
How do I compost? • Buy or build a compost bin. • Put yard trimmings and food waste in the bin. • Stir and aerate the pile weekly. • Apply the final product to your lawn or garden.
What about burning waste? • It is legal to burn household waste in Kentucky, but there are restrictions. • Do not burn the following: • Plastic. • Rubber products. • Paints or chemicals. • Treated lumber. • Animal and vegetable matter. • Check local burning regulations.
On-site Waste Dumps: • Are prohibited by Kentucky law. • Are unsightly. • May contain harmful chemicals. • May be hazardous if: • Pesticide containers are not rinsed properly. • Tires, oil, antifreeze and household chemicals are not disposed of properly.