Earth Day: Reduce, reuse, recycle

Celebrate Earth Day all year long with the three “R’s”: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce waste by buying less and shopping smarter.

When possible, buy products that require less packaging and are made from recycled content when possible, or buy from second-hand stores.

Buy items that last longer, even if they might cost a little more.

Buy in bulk. You’ll usually get your items cheaper, too.

Reuse what you already have, instead of buying more.

Reuse food containers

Donate unwanted items to charity or have a yard sale

Turn used computer paper over and print on the back side, or use it as scratch paper for notes or grocery lists.

Use dishwater for watering plants

Every year, Americans throw away enough plastic soda bottles to circle the Earth four times, and enough office paper to build a 12-foot-high wall of paper from New York to Los Angeles. Recycle instead. Let your waste company pick up approved items curbside or take them to the Recycling Bank of Gwinnett.

Old newspapers become new newsprint, boxboard, cellulose insulation, animal bedding and more.

Plastic milk jugs become flower pots, trash cans, traffic cones, pallets, detergent bottles, drainage pipes, plastic yard furniture, toys and more.