Managing Household Waste
What
are the 3 R's?
Reduce -- your first line of defense for waste management
- When choosing between similar products, select the one with the least amount of packaging and ask yourself if both the item and the package can be recycled or reused. Also, look for things that contain recycled content.
- Avoid the disposable versions of razors, pens, batteries, plates, cups, napkins, etc. for everyday use.
- Reduce junk mail by asking that your name and address be removed from mailing lists. Check out Stop the Junk Mail Monster to find out how.
Reuse -- give it a second chance!
- Purchase a reusable cup on campus to get discounted drinks at all dining locations.
- Bring your own reusable shopping bags rather than using paper or plastic.
- Carry food in reusable containers or wash and reuse plastic food bags.
- Invest in cloth napkins for daily use and reusable wiping cloths, towels, and plates.
- DONATING unwanted furniture, appliances, clothing, and toys is the best way to give goods a second life.
- Leave grass clippings and leaves
on your lawn or compost them.
Recycling -- close the loop
This term is used to describe the last and most important step in the recycling process. It refers to the point when a consumer buys a recycled product after it has been put into a recycling program and processed into a new item.
- Check out the Sustainable Campus map for on-campus recycling locations. On campus, 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum and tin cans, glass bottles, newspaper, office paper, magazines, and corrugated cardboard are all recyclable. UF even has places to recycle batteries and ink cartridges- visit Do It Reitz to find out more.
- Choose recyclable containers when purchasing refreshments. Avoid foam cups with plastic lids and straws.
- Support recycling markets by buying and using products made from recycled materials.
- Recycle! In Gainesville, we recycle all plastic with a #1 or #2 on the bottom, aluminum and tin cans, and glass jars and bottles. Make sure to rinse out everything you recycle and remove lids. You can also recycle office paper and junk mail, newspaper, magazines, and phonebooks. Remember, don’t throw any non-recyclables into the bins – one bad apple ruins the whole bunch. Gainesville offers blue and orange bins for residents that are collected every week along with regular trash. Visit the City's website website for more information.
- Apartment buildings in Gainesville are required to have recycling bins. If your apartment does not, call this number to report it: 352 334-2130
- Take chemicals, used oil, batteries, and electronic waste to the Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 5125 NE 63rd Ave, off Waldo Road. For more information on what they collect, call: 352-334-0440.
For more information about recycling, including finding the collection center
nearest you, visit Earth911.
For More Information:
Learn how to embrace zero waste at Alachua County Waste Alternatives.
Visit Alachua County Recycling to see recycling opportunities depending on where you live in the county.
Visit Hazardous Waste Collection to find out how to properly dispose of harmful chemicals, materials, substances, or products.
EDIS is the searchable Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension, a collection of information on topics relevant to sustainability. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html