57 Ways - 28. Recycle Paper, Glass, And Aluminum (And A Few Other Household Wastes)

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57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment (and Yourself)

Caring for the Home Landscape

1. Aim for a healthy lawn rather than a perfect lawn
2. Cut the grass without gas
3. Prevent insect, disease, and weed problems in the garden
4. Identify fruits and vegetables that need fewer pesticides
5. Select native trees and shrubs that will thrive in your yard
6. Keep your tress healthy and safe
7. Plant “wild” in your backyard
8. Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard

Using Alternatives to Traditional Pesticides & Fertilizers - Where Practical

9. Scout for pests on the landscape
10. Consider microbial insecticides
11. Consider botanical insecticides & insecticidal soaps
12. Conserve beneficial insects
13. Monitor & control insects with traps
14. Use pest barriers in your garden
15. Solarize soil
16. Consider the potential of natural fertilizers

Using Chemicals on the Landscape - If Necessary

17. Know what to ask a lawn-care company and arborist
18. Understand pesticide toxicity
19. Read the pesticide label
20. Apply pesticides accurately and safely
21. Apply fertilizers accurately and safely

Storing & Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals

22. Store hazardous chemicals safely
23. Dispose of pesticides safely
24. Dispose of auto products safely
25. Dispose of paints and solvents safely
26. Dispose of adhesives, areosols, household cleaners & other hazardous waste safely

Managing Yard, Food & Other Household Waste

27. Reduce household waste
28. Recycle paper, glass, & aluminum
29. Reuse and respond
30. Recycle grass clippings
31. Create a compost pile
32. Use yard waste as mulch
33. Dispose of tree residues

Protecting Your Drinking Water

34. Know when & how to test your water
35. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate 36. Test your water for pesticides - if necessary
37. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
38. Select effective water-treatment methods
39. Prevent contamination from septic systems
40. Know the pros & cons of bottled water

Protecting the Indoor Environment

41. Prevent contamination by lead
42. Test your home for radon
43. Reduce radon levels
44. Control dust, dust mites & other allergens
45. Reduce pollution from combustion equipment
46. Prevent contamination by formaldehyde and asbestos
47. Recognize tht it's not always necessary to control indoor insects
48. Select the right household pesticide
49. Control household pests with less toxic alternatives
50. Select household cleaners wisely

Conserving Energy & Water

51. Design new homes for energy effciency
52. Save energy in heating & cooling
53. Insulate & seal your home
54. Choose energy-efficient appliances
55. Save money & energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs
56. Use plants & other landscape tools to conserve energy
57. Conserve water in & around the home

28. Recycle Paper, Glass, And Aluminum (And A Few Other Household Wastes)
	The USEPA estimates that commercial and residential rubbish in the United States amounts to about 207 million tons a year. Much of this material can be recycled, keeping it out of landfills and reducing the amount of virgin material used to make products. By weight, about 37 percent of all municipal solid waste in the United States is paper and paperboard. Many types of paper can be recycled, but different recycling programs have different guidelines, so be sure to check locally for specifics.
	Because food and yard waste combined accounts for nearly 25 percent of our solid waste, dealing with it some other way makes good sense. Many, but not all, kitchen scraps make good compost.
	Metals account for the fourth largest percentage of our rubbish. Along with beer and soft drink cans, you can recycle “tin cans.” Some communities will also collect aluminum foil, pie pans, TV dinner trays, and lawn furniture.
	All kinds of glass containers—heavy or light—can be recycled. In addition, glass can be recycled and reused an indefinite number of times. Recycling centers will not, however, accept light bulbs, ceramic glass, dishes, or plate glass.
	Although there are many types of plastics, only two are currently being recycled in any significant quantities: PETE (polyethelene terephthalate), the primary plastic for soda bottles . . .
	. . . and HDPE (high-density polyethelene), the usual component of milk jugs and detergent bottles.
	Purchase products produced from recycled material. Look for the “recycled” symbol. But don’t be confused by the similarity between the “recycled” and “recyclable” symbols. When a product is labeled “recycled,” it has been produced—at least in part—from recycled materials. When it says “recyclable,” that means it can be recycled.
	However, keep in mind that when labels use the term “recycled,” the percentage of recycled material may be very low or the product and packaging may be entirely made from recylced materials. Also, it’s possible that a package labeled “recyclable” may not be recyclable in your community.