Ways to Reuse

Ways you can reuse:

-Buy products in containers that you'll reuse (glass jars, resealable containers).


-Use durable products instead of disposable ones. For example, use cloth rather than paper napkins, durable cameras instead of disposable ones, handkerchiefs instead of tissues, sponges or rags instead of paper towels.


-Return refillable bottles. They can be reused up to 20 times.


-Bring your own canvas bag when you go shopping. Minimize the use of paper and plastic bags, and reuse them for lunches or leftovers.


-Use rechargeable batteries.


-Use old fabric and worn-out clothes as rags.


-Use cloth or metal coffee filters instead of paper filters.


-Use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers.


-Use a mug instead of a paper or plastic cup.


- Repair broken appliances instead of throwing them away and buying new ones.


-Donate reusable items you no longer need to thrift shops. Shopping at thrift shops also helps.


-Buy gifts that benefit the environment. These could include memberships in environmental organizations, hand-made and home-made gifts, gardening items or long-lasting "environmental" gifts like a solar battery charger with rechargeable batteries, water-conserving shower heads or ceramic mugs. For kids, consider giving an environmental excursion, like a whale-watching or camping trip.


-Use recycled and reusable materials in your gift wrapping and packaging. Buy recycled wrapping paper, use popcorn for packing and reuse your packing materials. You can also use reused, and reusable, boxes, baskets, bags and tins. Old cards can be recycled into gift tags. If you are entertaining, send invitations on recycled paper, buy in bulk, and use reusable dishes and utensils. If you need paper products, buy products made from recycled paper. Set up an area to recycle cans, bottles and other recyclables at your party. Decorate with plants, flowers and reused materials instead of plastic streamers. Rent or borrow infrequently used items like punchbowls or large platters.


-After the holiday season is over, save your old cards, wrapping paper and packing materials for reuse. If you have styrofoam peanuts left over, you can donate them to the nearest Mail Boxes, Etc. so that they can reuse them. You can also arrange to have your old holiday cards reused.


-Remember to recycle your desktop calendars and other non-reusable materials. Donate unwanted clothing and gifts to thrift stores. And if you work in an office, do not throw your old desktop calendars out of the window at work - this wastes valuable resources and costs the city thousands of dollars in cleanup costs.

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