Why reduce waste?
Leon County residents and businesses produce 800-1,000 tons of garbage daily, and much of this could be recycled, reused or simply avoided. Help keep our community healthy and pristine by being aware of ways to minimize your impact and save resources.
Purchasing
Think before you buy
- Look for things made from recycled materials.
- Avoid disposable items – buy reusable.
- Hosting a party? Use reusable dishware or encourage guests to bring their own favorite glass. If that’s not possible, buy paper or compostable products rather than plastic or Styrofoam – they have a lesser environmental impact.
- Reusable grocery bags can hold a lot more than a plastic bag – and you never have to throw them away!
- Buy in bulk.
- Buying in bulk saves money and creates less waste than if you were to buy items in individual packages. If possible, avoid individually wrapped items and single-serve containers.
- Avoid items that contain excessive chemicals or fertilizers. Adding store-bought fertilizer to your yard can be harmful to water bodies – when it rains, this fertilizer is swept off by stormwater and can pollute nearby waterways
- There are many alternatives that are not only ‘greener,’ but also cheaper. Try leaving your yard debris on your lawn, or starting a compost pile, instead of bagging it – this is a natural way to make your yard nutritious without the additions of purchased fertilizer. Plus, it’s free!
- Buying cleaning products? Make some at home instead. White vinegar and baking soda is a cheap, toxic-free combination for cleaning just about anything. Learn how to make more home cleaning formulas.
- Look for eco-friendly alternatives next time you shop for cleaning materials – there are plenty of products that prize themselves on being better for the environment and better for your health. The Enviromental Working Group provides a list of some eco-friendly products.
Recycling
Recycling helps divert trash from the landfill, save valuable resources, and save energy. It takes significantly less energy and resources to make new products from recycled materials than it does to process and manufacture them from raw materials. Much of what we use is discarded far too quickly compared to the resources it took to extract and refine the products – it makes sense, economically and environmentally, to reuse these materials by recycling them!
Learn more about recycling in Leon County, including free public drop-off locations, rural waste service centers, education programs, etc., by visiting the Solid Waste Management How Do I Recycle page or check out our detailed "What Can Be Recycled" list for acceptable materials.
Donating
It is estimated that Americans now buy five times as much clothing as they did in 1980, yet only about 15% of textiles are recycled or donated. Donating goods that you no longer need or use to someone else is one of the most sustainable things you can do. Rather than dooming an item to the garbage can, you can donate it to a local charity, organization, or give it to a friend! A lot of used items, everything from old appliances, clothing, arts supplies, and household goods, are still valuable and useful.
Find the best local donation site for your items using the TLH Donation Directory.
Resources