Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy … make a difference in your world.

Amazing facts:  On average one person produces 4-6 pounds of trash. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to power a TV or a 100-watt light bulb for three hours. Americans throw away 44 million newspapers everyday. That’s the same as dumping 500,000 trees into landfills each week. Glass never wears out -- it can be recycled forever.  The plastic bottles that go to landfills take 700 years before they start to decompose.  Recycling creates 6 times as many jobs as sending your waste to a landfill.

Here are some tips about the four Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy) you can use at your home:

Reduce- cut your use of energy, water, materials, and toxic products.  When choosing between two similar products, select the one with the least unnecessary packaging. Consider whether concentrated products are appropriate for your needs. They often require less packaging and less energy to transport to the store, saving money as well as natural resources.  Cut down on your “junk mail” by using http://catalogchoice.org/ or https://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing.  Bring your own bags when you go shopping.  Use least toxic methods for cleaning and pest control.  Visit http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/home for suggestions.

Reuse- use it again and again, until it can’t be used anymore or give it to someone else to use.  Cloth napkins, sponges, or dishcloths can be used around the house. These can be washed over and over again.  Instead of buying disposable products, which are wasteful, buy things that will last a long time, such as rechargeable batteries and reusable plastic mugs for drinks.   Rent or borrow seldom-used equipment.  If you have something you no longer need list it on www.freecycle.org.

Recycle- make new products or packaging from used materials.  Learn how to compost food scraps and yard trimmings.  Use leaves for mulching your garden beds.  Collect your glass, newspaper, aluminum, cardboard, metal, plastic water bottles, milk jugs and take them to the recycling center or to the once monthly in-town mobile recycling unit. 

Rebuy- consume products made from recycled materials.  Purchase writing paper made from recycled content.  Products made from recycled paper, plastic, and

other materials are usually easy to recognize in the store—just read the labels. Try starting with school supplies. Many stores carry recycled notebooks, pens, and other products.

The key to success is to start simple and start small.  If you are new to recycling, start by collecting and disposing of one type of recyclable, such as newspapers.  As you become for familiar and comfortable with the four Rs, you can do more!

click here to view all our programs

Dog Collars - Big Dog Boutique.com

Contact Information:

Keep Brownwood Beautiful

PO Box 1105/114 Center Avenue Suite 201

Brownwood, TX 76804

325.641.0533

kbwdb@verizon.net

Executive Director:

Cary Perrin

Last modified: 2-1-08 Designed by Nuovo Adventures  copyright 2008  caryleigh@verizon.net