Environmental Resources

Reduce

The most effective way to prevent waste is by not creating any in the first place. Making a new product requires a lot of materials and energy, the raw materials must be extracted from the earth and the products must be fabricated and then transported for sale. Reducing your consumption is the most efficient way to reduce your impact and save money.

Conduct a Waste Audit

In California, the average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste each day, here, in Antioch the average person only produces 3.1 pounds of waste each day. See how you compare by conducting a waste and fridge audit in your household. Understanding the types of waste you generate most will help you to develop a waste management plan that is specific to your needs and help you to reduce your waste and save money!

Do a Zero Waste Challenge

Challenge yourself to take a zero waste challenge for a week or 30 days to see how much waste you can reduce from your daily life. This would require to collect all of the landfill waste you create over your selected period and keep it to a minimum. All items you are able to compost or recycle will not count as your waste since they will be diverted from the landfill thus reducing you long term impact. This is a great opportunity to transform your everyday choices to deeper shades of green. Do some research and share your results with us in the Environmental Resources Department.

Checklist to Help You Reduce Your Waste

• Purchase products with the least amount of packaging.
• If a product requires packaging, vote with your dollars and consider giving preference to those that use less packaging.
• When possible, purchase durable long-lasting items over the cheaper alternatives.
• Invest in reusable items to replace single-use (water bottles, to-go cups, straws, utensils)
• Purchase products made from recycled content (printer paper, pens, bottles, clothes, etc.)
• Go paperless, and reduce the unwanted mail being sent to your home and office.
• Plan meals ahead of time and shop with a grocery list to reduce food waste.
• Start composting at home and support your neighbors to reducing their waste.