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Reduce Your Waste Tips and Ideas on how to reduce your waste impact. The best way to reduce is to create less waste in the first place. Waste that is not created does not have to be managed later. Reducing waste, also known as "source reduction," tops the solid waste hierarchy because of its potential to reduce system costs, prevent pollution, consume fewer resources, and increase efficiency. Source reduction programs reduce both the quantity and the toxicity of waste. This front-end approach includes designing, manufacturing, and packaging products to minimize volume and toxic content, and extend product life. Businesses, institutions, and citizens may also practice source reduction through selective buying and the reuse of products and materials. At home: Composting Your Garbage Stop junk mail Use non-toxic substances for cleaning Maintain appliances to keep in good working condition Mend clothing Donate or sell secondhand items Use low-energy fluorescent light bulbs Use smallest amounts needed (food, cleaners, etc.) Leave grass clippings on the lawn Mulch leaves Share periodicals with others At Work and in the Classroom Purchase supplies and parts in bulk Work with suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging they send, or switch to recyclable material Buy refillable pens and ink cartridges Develop a waste reduction budget Improve worker training to reduce production of inferior products Develop waste reduction goals Reuse as much as possible While Shopping Invest in durable and repairable products Select products with the least amount of packaging Avoid single-use (disposable) products Buy grocery, hardware and household items that are available in bulk Don't buy it if you don't need it Avoid excessive packaging Stopping Junk Mail If you find that you receive large quantities of mail which you do not want, contact the Mail Preference Service and say "please remove my name from all mailing lists." This needs to be done periodically to keep your name off the lists. They can be reached at (212) 768-7277, http://www.dmaconsumers.org, or Mail Preference Service/Direct Marketing Association PO Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512-0643 You can also stop the credit card offers. Call the credit bureaus to get your name off the shared list: (888) 567-8688. Also, call the 800 numbers listed on unwanted or duplicate catalogs and ask to be removed from the list. New Hampshire has a great information on more you can do, visit: http://www.des.state.nh.us/junkmail/. Windham Solid Waste Management District 327 Old Ferry Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301 Phone (802)257-0272  |  Fax 257-5122  |  E-mail recycle@wswmd.org