Projects To Help You Prepare

Here are some things you can do ahead of time in your home and neighborhood to help make going trash-free easier. With a little bit of preparation, getting rid of your garbage making habits will be simple, because you'll have alternative solutions ready to go.

• If you don't already have a composting system, section off a corner of your yard for food scraps, set up a compost bin, or make a worm bin for your deck - learn all about compost at howtocompost.org
• Clear a spot near your door where you can keep bags handy for taking to the store - if they are convenient or even a little in the way, you are most likely to remember them on your way out
• Take the time to fix your bike or take it to a bike shop so you'll actually ride it - to learn how to fix a bike yourself, check out this DIY bike repair site
• Scout out markets and grocery stores in your area to find out which ones sell bulk food, unpackaged fruits and vegables, and milk in returnable glass bottles
• Scavenge paper from your home or office recycling bin
• Look through your recycling and save a collection of pasta sauce and jam jars, and plastic tubs
• As you go about a normal day, try to notice when you throw things away, and think about some ideas of how you could avoid making that kind of trash
• Ask your friends and co-workers if they would be interested in partnering up with you for bulk food buying or a weekly produce delivery program
• Gather together a stockpile of light-weight reused plastic, paper, and mesh bags - collect them from what you or friends already saved, not fresh from a store
• Discontinue snail mailed magazines and catalogs; if you're interested in what they are offering, chances are you can get an online version just as easily. To cancel undesired catalogs and magazines, register at Catalog Choice. You can sign up for multiple names, including "resident" or "current resident" at multiple addresses.
• Get your name off the junk mail listings - for details about how to do that visit
  • Eco Cycle's Stop the Junk Mail step by step list
  • Direct Marketing Association's site for removal from mail, telemarketing, and email lists
  • DirectMail.com National Do Not Mail List
  • OptOutPrescreen.com to no longer be included in offer lists of four consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion)
  • NewDream.org to support state legislation for Do Not Junk registries
  • Global Stewards to see lots of tips and contact info for reducing personal and business junk mail
  • If you have an American Express credit card, call the automated line at 1-800-297-8378 to quickly opt out of all their promotional mailings and information sharing.
• Cancel all hard copy newspaper and magazine subscriptions and get your information online - most publications have an online and paper copy available

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