Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: 5 Ways to Cut Down on Landfill Waste
Most people don’t spend much time thinking about just how much waste they put into the landfill every week, but just a single average Canadian produces about 30 million tons of waste every single year! And just where do you think all of that waste is going? It always used to end up in the landfill, but we are simply running out of places to put it. Thankfully recycling has cut down on the amount of that waste that actually goes to the landfill, but more still needs to be done.
Here are five easy ways we all can cut down on how much we send to the landfill.
- Creative – Think about ways to reuse everything. No matter what you are throwing away, there might be some ways it can be reused. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
- Organic Materials – Banana peels and other organic materials like that can be composted to create rich soil that’s perfect for growing your own vegetables.
- Donation – Recycle those old clothes by giving them to a clothing wholesaler like Seconds Wholesale, which will then get them to a charity organization where they will be put to good use by someone who needs them.
- Possibilities – Look for ways to reuse or repurpose plastic bags and containers. The possibilities are endless. Use plastic bottles to keep your plants safe from pests like snails or slugs naturally without the use of pesticides. Use empty yogurt pots to start seedlings before planting them outside.
- Recycled Material – Support businesses that take strides to cut down on the amount of packaging material they use and/or use recycled material for their packaging.
The possibilities are endless when you really start thinking about ways to reduce your landfill waste. The issue some people have is that it feels like a lot of work to take these small steps. If you are one of those people who are always telling themselves that they don’t have time to do these things, then think again!
There are numerous businesses popping up all over Canada that will help you treat the environment a little better and cut down on landfill waste. You will even discover that thanks to these businesses, large items that would never fit in a traditional recycling bin can actually be recycled. And these items should be recycled because they often contain hazardous materials that will cause damage if they are allowed to seep into the ground at the landfill.
For example, did you know that electronics and appliances can be recycled? You may be tempted to throw them into the back of the truck and haul them down to the local landfill, but there are much more responsible ways to get rid of them. If you really think about what makes up these items, you will discover that metal is a main component. Metal is one of the most recyclable things out there right now, and it’s ending up in the landfill because people don’t even realize that large items can be recycled if you take them to the right place. Even electronics can be recycled because those components contain a lot of metal and plastic, even though you don’t necessarily see these materials.
Some nonprofit companies help you keep more of your trash out of the Barrie landfill. They offer a clothing recycling program that enables charities to get the clothing they need to share with their local communities. This company also offers e-waste or electronic recycling, metal recycling, and even drop off and pick up services for recycling. They also purchase products that can be recycled as part of their efforts to cut down on landfill waste.
Seconds Wholesale will take all of your used clothing donations. They’ll help you raise money for a trip or program or simply give you a way to get rid of your old clothes in an economical, environmentally friendly way. As Barrie landfill, they also provide clothes, metal, and electronics recycling in Ontario.
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