Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

To produce less waste, practice the 3 R's; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycle at your curb, it's the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to Recycle!  Check out the link on the right to find out what your waste hauler recycles.

Recycle as much as possible and BUY recycled materials.

Recycling means separating, collecting, and reprocessing of materials that would otherwise be discarded, and using them to produce new products - again and again. Recycling has become more popular over the years as people are more cognizant of the need to reduce waste generation. Some segments of recycling have grown more than others. Below is a list of commonly recycled items:

• 93.3 percent of all batteries are now recycled.
• 42 percent of all paper waste products are now recycled.
• 41.7 percent of all yard trimmings are now recycled.
• 35.5 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles are now recycled
• 59.5 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans are now recycled.
• 61 percent of all steel packaging is now recycled.
• 92 percent of all automobiles are now recycled.
• 64.3 percent of all major appliances are now recycled.

Reduce the amount of trash discarded.

In 1996, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 209 million tons of municipal solid waste, which is approximately 4.3 pounds of waste per person per day. Below are some tips for reducing the waste generated:

• Buy only as much fertilizer, pesticide, cleaner, or paint, as you need and use it until it is depleted, discarding the packaging according to manufacturer's instructions.
• If you cannot use all of the product and must dispose of it, call the Rooney Road Recycling Center at 303-316-6262 to dispose of it properly.
• Purchase items that can be regenerated, such as rechargeable batteries.
• Purchase products with minimum packaging.

Reuse products or give them to someone else for use.

Before discarding, consider other uses for materials, including:

• Reusing white or colored paper for note taking or children's art projects.
• Washing and reusing serving containers or plastic bags.
• Donating used furniture, clothes, or household items by contacting: Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at 303-288-8387
  The Salvation Army at 303-95truck
  Goodwill at 303-650-7701
  Big Brothers or Big Sisters at 303-433-6002
  Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) at 303-238-5263
  Good Shepard at 303-231-9909