Backyard Compost

• Transfer the organic waste (banana peels, apple cores, potato skin, egg shells, coffee grinds, etc.) from your kitchen compost pile to your backyard compost pile as often as possible.
• Avoid adding grass clippings, leaves, twigs, straw, acorns, moss and algae that have been treated with pesticides and herbicides.
• Do not fill your outdoor bin with meat scraps, fish bones, bacon fat, cleaning chemicals, pet waste or diseased plants, all of which are capable of attracting pests and spreading disease.
• To speed up the composting cycle, place your compost bin in an area that will receive direct sunlight. Use a compost turner, pitch fork or shovel to aerate your pile every two weeks by mixing up the contents (as if you were tossing a salad).
• If you have not switched to e-news and still receive newspapers in the mail, add them to your compost bin when you are finished reading.  Remember to shred them first! Shredding will speed up the composting process. 

Electronics

• Visit the Marin Computer Resource Center. This environmentally-friendly organization recycles computers, printers, monitors, TVs, VCRs, stereos, phones and most home and office electronics, in addition to all of their accessories.
• If your gadgets are in good condition and are light enough to ship, try selling them on Ebay.
• If you are not interested in receiving money for your unused gadgets, bring them to a Salvation Army, Goodwill, community thrift store, or buy/sell/trade retail establishment. Remember to keep a list of everything you donate – you’ll be able to write each item off when you file your taxes.
• Plan for future donations. When you buy a new appliance, save the box it comes in, in addition to the manuals, warranties, controllers, power cords, earphones and all other accessories. These components will increase the monetary value of your donation.

• If you have a large appliance that doesn’t work, find someone on Craigslist who can learn from it. Local repair shops, trade schools and hobbyists will enjoy dissecting your appliance and reusing any and all working components. 

Junk Mail

• When you receive a credit card offer, company catalogue, newsletter or coupon-booklet that you did not request, immediately contact the sender and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
• Create an online account at DoNotMail.org to opt out of catalogues, credit card offers, coupons and circulars.
• Contact your bank, credit card company, internet service provider, utility provider, homeowners association and/or landlord to inquire about paperless billing and email notifications.
• Buy an e-reader so you can download magazines, monthly newsletters and coupon offers online.
• Make a piñata and confetti for your next birthday party out of existing junk mail.  

Kitchen Compost

• Ask your trash hauler if they provide free countertop composting bins. If so, request one.
• If your hauler does not supply bins, buy one from your local hardware store or create your own. To create a countertop compost bin, all you need is an empty old coffee can with a sealable lid and a package of charcoal filters.
• Fill your compost bin with organic waste: banana peels, apple cores, potato skins, eggshells and coffee grinds, to name a few. Do not fill your compost bin with meat scraps, fish bones, bacon fat, cleaning chemicals, pet waste or diseased plants.
• Get specific. See exactly what items can go in your green cart.
• Keep a secondary compost bin in your garage, if you do not have a backyard compost pile. A five-gallon bucket with a sealable lid (found at your local hardware store) is ideal. Empty the contents of your kitchen compost bin into your larger bucket two to three times per week. 

Packaged Goods

• Whenever possible, shop at grocery stores that offer unpackaged products in bins. Bins reduce the need for structured, stackable packaging that is generally found on shelves.
• Handpick your fruit and vegetables from bins and barrels and place them directly in a reusable shopping bag. Avoid purchasing over-packaged produce that is sold at retail giants, such as the all-too-familiar, four-pack of apples in a plastic receptacle.

• Buy groceries in bulk. Leftovers can usually be stored in reusable, airtight containers or frozen for use on a later date.

• When packaging is unavoidable, choose lightweight. Lightweight packaging contains fewer materials, which reduces energy consumption during the packaging manufacturing process and cuts back on fuel used for transport.
• Most toiletry and cleaning supply brands offer extra-large or refillable containers. Whenever possible, take advantage of these offers. For instance, buy one reusable hand-soap dispenser and a 56 oz. industrial-sized bottle of hand-soap, rather than a twelve-pack of 7.5 oz. bottles.  

Paper Towels

• Reinvent your old t-shirts, sweatshirts, pajama pants, bath towels, beach towels, sheets and socks – turn them into reusable rags. Then spill, wipe, rinse, and wash – it’s that simple.

• Consider adding a rag bin in your basement, garage or laundry room. A forty-liter garbage can, which holds around 100 rags, is ideal for a family of four.

• Buy cloth napkins and use them with every meal. Bring your family shopping with you and have each member choose their favorite. Consider buying two sets, just in case one is in the wash.
• Buy an additional set of cloth napkins and set them aside for guests. For a lasting impression, choose white napkins – you’ll be able to bleach them time and time again.
• If you absolutely must purchase paper towels, reach for the ones made from recycled content. 

Plastic Bottles

• Keep your reusable water bottle in the front and center of your refrigerator, so you’ll never forget it.
• Place a spare reusable water bottle in your car, gym locker and office.
• Fill your reusable water bottle with more than just water – add sliced fruits, vegetables and herbs. Consider fresh cucumbers, strawberries, lemons, oranges, limes, honeydew melons, mint, basil, rosemary or rose petals. For a tangy twist, add a splash of cider vinegar.
• Beware of BPA. Some reusable water bottles contain Bisphenol A, a potentially harmful chemical in plastic that is suspected of causing cancer. If the label says “BPA free,” you’re good to go.
• Embrace tap water. Believe it or not, most tap water is cleaner than bottled water. Tap water is monitored by the EPA, state and local authorities, while bottled water is only monitored by the FDA.

Recycled Products

• Next time you shop, look for products that are made with recycled content. These products will usually mention their recycled content. Remember, the more post-consumer content the better.
• Encourage others to help our environment by gifting recycled content. Take it a step further by wrapping your presents in cloth or in cool old newspapers. Sometimes the content in an old news story can spark a conversation.

• Before buying your next necessity or accessory, check online to see if a recycled version of the specific item exists.
• Visit TheTriftShopper.com to locate the Salvation Army, Goodwill and/or community thrift store closest to you. No matter which retail establishment you visit, you’re sure to find interesting items, many of which have never been used.
• Acquire recycled items for free – online sites like Craigslist, Freesharing and Freecycle offer everything from thumbtacks to automobiles. 

Shopping Bags

• Reusable shopping bags are capable of holding more than just groceries. Use yours when you shop for clothes, shoes, electronics, jewelry, cosmetics – you name it.
• Start each shopping list by writing, “1. Bring reusable shopping bags.” Keep a reusable shopping bag full of reusable shopping bags in the trunk of your car. That way, you’ll be prepared for spontaneous shopping-sprees and unavoidable red-tag sales.
• If you accidentally forget your reusable shopping bag, ask yourself, “Can I carry this?” before requesting a plastic or paper bag from the cashier.
• Don’t forget to wash your reusable shopping bags on a regular basis, especially after carrying meat or dairy products.
• Sign up for a Zero Waste Challenge and get a free Zero Waste Marin tote-bag and begin making an impact. 

Takeout Containers

• Planning ahead cuts down on waste – pack tomorrow’s lunch today. Don’t forget to include a set of non-disposable utensils.
• For a refreshing drink at lunch with your homemade sandwich, freeze your reusable water bottle tonight and let it defrost from the moment you get up to the moment you eat lunch.
• Buy a travel mug and use it every time you drink coffee. For best results, measure the diameter of your car cup-holder and buy a mug that fits accordingly. If you forget to bring your mug, ask for a non-disposable cup – most coffee houses will accommodate you.
• Keep a tote bag with three to five reusable food containers in your pantry, in your trunk and under your desk at work. Bring your bag of containers with you when you dine and use the containers for leftovers.
• If a single-use disposable container is unavoidable, make sure you recycle it!