Don’t feel guilty, everyone generates waste. We hope this information can help you reduce the waste you generate, reduce your climate impact, and sometimes also save you some money.
First:Pause before you buy it… do you really need it? …if you do then how long will it last? …can it be repaired if it breaks? longer lasting & repairable items will save you money in the long run, will save resources , and generate less waste. Of course, not buying something saves the most money and generates the least waste – but you knew that already :).
When you have a choice, consider products with the least packaging, that have travelled the least miles to get to you. Avoid single use, disposable products that will end up in the trash soon after you buy them.
Here are some resources that can help you determine what to do with products and packaging at the end of their life:
- The Town of Belmont’s waste and recycling presentation (presentation)
- Includes what to recycle and what to not
- The Town’s website is here
- Composting food waste in Belmont (presentation to be posted soon)
- A better future with Massachusetts’s legislation and producer responsibility (presentation)
- Hazard waste drop off information
- Mount Auburn Cemetery electrical waste events (every January)
- Lexington Hazardous waste drop off (access via here for Belmont Residents)
Below you can access recyclesmart’s recyclopedia and take a fun quiz (or two) to test your knowledge…
www.recyclesmartma.org/ – to find our whether something is recyclable
www.recyclesmart.org quiz – show ’em what you know!