Choices That Help

· Buy fewer things- The best way to reduce the amount of packaging in the trash and reduce the amount of energy and other resources used is to buy less.
· Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs- Compact bulbs use 75 percent less energy, last 10 times longer and save money over time.
· Keep car engine filters clean- Clogged filters waste gasoline.
· Check tire pressure regularly- Under-inflated tires increase gas use.
· Check water faucets for leaks- Whenever possible, replace faucets and shower heads with high-efficiency models.
· Insulate- Caulk windows and doors and insulate walls, ceilings and crawl spaces.
· Take showers instead of baths- A shower uses 40 percent less water than a bath.
· Use a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler- Sprinklers waste water through evaporation. Rubber soaker hoses leak moisture to the soil at a slow rate, enabling the water to be absorbed.
· Garden organically- Plant disease-resistant plants and use friendly bugs to control insect pests.
· Fertilize only once a year- Lawns fertilized every month in the summer require 13 percent more water than those fertilized only once.
· Keep daytime lights low or off- Electric lights generate heat and add to the load on an air conditioner.
· Don't open the oven when cooking- Heat escapes and increases cooking time. Use timers and the oven door window instead.
· Buy the largest possible shampoo container- Use it to refill a smaller container kept in the shower. The larger size is less expensive in the long run, and less trash will be generated.
· Use cloth dish towels and napkins instead of paper- Keep old towels, stained napkins and cloth diapers to use as rags.
· Use glass dishes and cups and metal silverware instead of plastic- If you must buy plastic, make sure it is extremely durable and can be reused.
· When possible, buy unbleached paper products such as coffee filters, milk cartons, toilet paper and paper towels- The chlorine used to bleach paper products has been linked to dioxin, a highly carcinogenic substance. Dioxin has been found in the soil and water around paper mills, and traces of the substance have been found in the bleached paper products themselves.
Taken from The Derrick/The News-Herald Newspaper: Friday, October 30, 1998. Page 12.

Reduce Paper Use

-inspire double sided copying...if possible have onesided paper for draft copies in one tray of copy machines
-make an instructional sticker for all copy machines to explain how to make doublesided copies
-encourage paperless communication, limit paper communication: use campus newsletter, e-mail lists, short everyone lists for paper memos in departments, use route slips on memos that are not time specific
-purchase and use at least 50% recycled content paper, this will stimulate the recycling markets such that recycling can survive
-put recycling containers in all offices, copy and mail rooms and by all copy machines
-set-up a campus or office reusable office supply exchanges so that folks can drop off what they don't need and pick up usable stuff
-give all office personnel refillable mugs and a deskside recycling collection container
-provide an e-mail network with representatives from all departments...you can contact them and do education on items
setup "stop the junk mail" cards that folks can use to send to companies when they receive unwanted unsolicited mail from off campus...this is a huge waste generator.
-get companies to be accountable for waste, get waste reduction written into all contracts
-if you can, get cloth towels on a roll for all bathrooms. If you can't put stickers on the paper towel dispensers to get people to think about reducing paper towel use (Use Wisely, Paper=Trees).
-all printed memos should be 1/2 sheet and double sided when possible
-set up reuse place for envelopes, pens, paper clips and other office stuff
-charge people for (students) for printing off the computer. This is a huge waste of paper and people need to pay for their waste.
setup a policy so that folks have a commitment and finally, make recycling a part of the everyday life in these areas, have well signed, convenient and aesthetically pleasing recycling containers every where you can.
-do a contest for reuse and waste reduction ideas and give an award of a gift certificate for recycled content products at the bookstore or through your office supply place.....

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