Over 6 tons of trash leaves the Portland State campus everyday! It's time to re-examine how much stuff you consume. So what can you do to start reducing?! Here are 10 tips you can put to use at school, work, the grocery store, and at home (most of them will save you money too!):

1.    ALWAYS ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Learn to distinguish between “need” and “want”.

2.    Cut down on paper usage! Did you know that Americans throw away enough paper each year to build a 12-foot wall stretching from New York to San Francisco?!
•    Encourage teachers to allow assignments to be turned in electronically and to use audio/visual presentations instead of handouts
•    Proofread on your computer screen, before you print
•    Always print double-sided
•    Take notes on your laptop, if possible
•    Make a scratch pad from used paper

3.    Cut down on the amount of paper you throw out (or hopefully recycle).
•    Avoid junk mail -http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/
•    Opt for paperless billing statements
•    Instead of buying magazines and newspapers, read them online for free or borrow them from the library

4.    Think about your choices at lunchtime.
•    Opt to dine in rather than take out
•    Bring your lunch in reusable containers
•    Avoid pre-assembled lunch kits with excess packaging that will just get thrown away
•    Choose the sandwich wrapped in the small brown bag over the salad bar with the difficult-to-recycle plastic clamshell to-go container
•    If you do get something to-go, bring flatware and a cloth napkin from home

5.    Buy long life and concentrated products.
•    Buy quality office and school supplies (binders, folders, report covers, etc.) that will handle more wear and last longer
•    Buy in bulk, when practical, it uses less packaging (a 16-oz. can uses 40% less packaging than 2 8-oz. cans) and will cost you less in the long run
•    Opt for long life, energy-efficient light bulbs
•    Buy concentrated cleaning liquids and laundry detergents that can be diluted, and reuse one plastic bottle over and over
•    Choose durable products; they may cost more up front, but they'll save you money overall, as well as reduce the overall environmental impact

6.    Take note of product packaging. By following these tips, you are sending the message to manufacturers that Americans don't need over-packaged and disposable products. Money talks!
•    Buy products with the least amount of packaging or none at all. Compare the size of the package to the size of the product.
•    Look for items in recycled packaging that also sport the recycle symbol. (Some products are made from recycled material, but are not recyclable and vice versa. Complete the recycling loop!)
•    Buy loose fruits and vegetables rather than pre-packaged
•    Store brands and generic brands often use less packaging (and are less expensive too!)
•    Buy items packaged in cardboard, aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic stamped 1 and 2 on the bottom. These materials can be recycled more easily.
 

7.    Dispose of disposables. For more information on how to eliminate wasteful disposables from your life, check out the Reuse page.

8.    Cut back on plastic bottle consumption.
•    Buy a water filter for your home instead of water bottles. Scientific studies show that bottled water is no safer than tap water, and is often less safe, sometimes containing high concentrations of toxins like arsenic and mercury.
•    Use a stainless steel or aluminum refillable water bottle at work and school. Plastic water bottles can leach harmful carcinogenic toxins.
•    Make soda and sparkling water at home and bring it to work or school in your reusable bottle www.sodastream.com

9.    Instead of buying things you will rarely use, borrow or rent them.

10.    Participate in a book swap program, like PaperbackSwap.com.


For more precycling ideas, check out our resources/bibliography page.