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GET TO HALF

Tips for Getting to Half @ Home

Getting to Half at Home actually starts at the Store

Start by reducing waste at the source - the store. Rethink your buying habits by asking yourself a few simple questions:

  • Do I really need this item?
  • Is this item made from renewable resources? Recycled material?
  • What waste was produced to make this item?
  • How will I dispose of this item?
  • How much and what type of packaging does it have?
  • How will I dispose of the packaging?

By making better decisions about what you buy and how you dispose of it, you can reduce the amount of waste you generate and help protect the environment.

Here are some suggestions to help you cut your waste in half when visiting the local shopping centre or grocery store:

  • Use reusable shopping bags.
  • Return plastic shopping bags to the grocery store for recycling. Visit www.myplasticbag.ca for a complete list of Newfoundland and Labrador grocery retailers that take back plastic bags for recycling.
  • Avoid buying disposable items such as cups, plates, forks, razors, etc.
  • Buy groceries in bulk rather than in single serve containers.
  • Purchase products in concentrated form (like fruit juice and laundry detergent).
  • Purchase products with less packaging.
  • Shop the periphery of the grocery store where you find fresher, less-packaged goods.
  • Buy products that are durable, well-made and repairable.
  • Purchase only what you need and avoid impulse buying.
  • Consider purchases carefully. Perhaps you can rent, borrow or purchase second hand instead.
  • Don't discard useable clothing or household items. Hold a yard sale or donate items to a charitable organization.
  • Cancel subscriptions to magazines and newspapers you don't actually read and give old issues to friends, co-workers, nursing homes, etc.
  • Purchase products that are made as close to Newfoundland and Labrador as possible.
  • Tell manufacturers and retailers when you are unhappy with excess packaging.
  • Check out books from the library, rent movies and games, or borrow infrequently-used items from your family and friends rather than purchasing.
In the Kitchen
  • Buy in bulk and store items in reusable containers.
  • Use cloth napkins and cleaning towels instead of paper towels.
  • Pack a waste-free lunch for work or school.
  • Bring your morning coffee in a reusable mug.
  • Use a coffee press or reusable coffee filters.
  • Reuse plastic containers to store leftovers or for packing lunches.
  • Plan your meals and cook only what you will eat.
  • Reheat leftovers for your lunch.
  • Avoid letting food spoil in your fridge.
  • Compost your organic kitchen waste.
  • Recycle beverage containers by bringing them to a Green Depot.
Around the Home
  • Repair or refurbish items rather than replacing them - items like furniture, appliances, clothing, and sporting equipment.
  • Reuse gift bags, wrapping paper, and tags.
  • Donate unwanted clothing, furniture, magazines, and other household items to charitable organizations, hospitals, or libraries.
  • Get family members together to buy equipment that is not required frequently.
  • Use rechargeable rather than disposal batteries and recycle your batteries when they are no longer useful.
  • When renovating, plan ahead and buy the right amount of paint / lumber / supplies for the job.
  • If you don't read flyers, put a "No Junkmail Please" sign on your mailbox.
  • Do your banking by phone or online and choose paperless billing.
With your Children
  • Make crafts out of household items and natural material.
  • Pack a waste-free lunch for your child.
  • Involve your child in returning recyclables to the Green Depot and adding material to the compost pile.
While Cleaning
  • Make cleaning rags out of old sheets or towels.
  • Avoid single-use cleaning tools and supplies.
  • Use non-hazardous cleaning products, where possible. See non-hazardous options.
  • Get rid of (useful) unwanted items by having a yard sale or swap.
In the Garage
  • Trade in or exchange your old car battery when purchasing a new one.
  • Recycle household hazardous wastes (HHW) including cleaning agents, chemicals, and paint.
  • Recycle used lubricating oil by returning it to the point of purchase.
  • Recycle used tires by returning them to any tire retailer.
  • Donate or recycle (where available) old electronics.
  • Call your municipal government for information about seasonal or designated pickup days for old appliances.