WASTE REDUCTION Tip Sheet
Background Points
 The majority of emissions associated with consumption and waste belongs to the “upstream”
phase of a product’s life – the acquisition of raw materials and manufacturing phases.
 Residential waste made up 41% of Oregon’s waste stream in 2000, according to the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Oregon Solid Waste Composition Study.
Glossary of terms:
Recycled content: Items that have been manufactured from reused material.
Post-consumer content: Material being reused from items used by consumers once before, rather
than materials left over from manufacturing processes.
Compost: Allowing micro-organisms to decompose organic waste materials by mixing or layering food
scraps, dried leaves or newspapers and other organic materials in a pile. This method of waste
disposal results in a usable end product and the release of carbon dioxide, rather than the more
potent greenhouse gas, methane, released by waste decomposing in land. Once processed, compost
can be used as fertilizer for gardens and flowerbeds.
Suggestions: Waste Reduction
1. Ask yourself:
Do I really need this? Can the purchase be avoided altogether?
If it breaks, can it be fixed?
How will I dispose of it?
What is its environmental cost?
Is it a fair trade product?
Could I borrow, rent, or buy it used?
Is it worth the time I worked to pay for it?
2. Purchase second-hand items, including clothes, housewares and building materials. Check out
thrift stores and garage sales for treasures and savings!
3. Buy items with recycled content to avoid emissions associated with gathering raw materials.
4. Buy durable products. Buy items made to last to reduce the emissions associated with
production, transportation and disposal. Items that can be repaired rather than tossed make a
difference too.
* Avoid disposable items.
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5. Recycle everything that you can. Depending on how much you use, for a three-person household:

Recycling plastic can cut 141 lbs of CO2-equivalent from your annual GHG emissions. Many
stores also take back/recycle plastic bags.

Recycling aluminum and steel cans can cut 497 lbs of CO2-equivalent from your annual GHG
emissions.

Recycling paper reduces your annual GHG emissions by 553lb of CO2-equivalent.

Recycling glass cuts 77 lbs of CO2-equivalent annually.

Recycle used computers, cell phones, and other electronics to reduce the use of raw materials
and keep toxins out of landfills. http://nextsteprecycling.org/ or (541) 686-2366 (Eugene
location) or (541) 744-6901 (Springfield location)

Take old building supplies to BRING Recycling. Give used building materials a second life!
http://www.bringrecycling.org/ or (541) 746-3023

Properly dispose of your compact fluorescent lights and other household chemicals.
Fluorescents can also be recycled at most hardware stores to avoid releasing mercury into
landfills.
6. Compost or use worm bins to reduce methane emissions. 1.5 lbs of CO2-equivalent is saved for
each pound of organic waste that is composted.
7. Reuse containers. Wash them out and reuse them rather than disposing of them.
8. Avoid packaged items. The less packaging you buy, the less packaging that you throw away and
the less material you are wasting.
9. Bring your own bags when you shop. This will reduce or eliminate the need to take home plastic
or paper bags from the store. Many stores also give a discount when you use your own bags.
10. Reduce the number of times per month that your trash is collected. Follow the preceding 9
guidelines to spend less money on your garbage service!
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Resources: Waste Reduction

BRING Recycling: http://www.bringrecycling.org/ or (541) 746-3023

Electronics recycling http://nextsteprecycling.org/ or (541) 686-2366 (Eugene location) or
(541) 744-6901 (Springfield location)

Composting education and information. (OSU Extension Service)
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/horticulture/Compost.php

City of Eugene: http://www.eugeneor.gov/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=CommunityPage
&parentid=1&in_hi_userid=2&conGeneral recycling and solid waste information.

Sanipac: 736-3600 or http://www.sanipac.com/

Lane Apex: 541.607.2042 or http://www.laneapex.com/
Notes
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