Here are four easy ways for a greener school year.
OAKLAND, CA — August 4, 2012 — As summer ends and students head back to school, Waste Management of Alameda County encourages students and parents to include waste reduction habits this back-to-school season.
“As North America’s largest residential recycler, we want to invite Alameda County residents and customers to join in our quest to conserve our natural resources by including a few green habits that can go a long way,” said David Tucker, Director of Public Affairs. “As natural resources become scarcer, the smallest action to reduce waste can have a positive impact on the environment.”
Waste Management offers the following tips to reduce, reuse and recycle this school year:
- Pack a lunch with reusable gear: Packing a lunch is a healthy habit for both you and the Earth. Eating out often means more calories, more money and more waste, whereas bringing lunch gives you an opportunity to use leftovers and save money. By utilizing reusable gear, like a lunch box, Tupperware, a cloth napkin or metal silverware, you can save on waste. Bring your own reusable coffee mug or water bottle instead of using disposables. And be sure to recycle any packaging, such as bottles, cans, or yogurt containers when you are finished.
- Purchase products made from recycled materials: Sure, we all need our papers, binders, and printer inks, but all of these products are available with at least some recycled content. Print documents double sided and refill ink cartridges instead of buying new ones. Not only does this save on resources, it also costs less. For instance, refilling ink cartridges can save up to 40 percent on the price.
- Utilize carpools or public transportation: While cars may be convenient, traffic and high gas prices certainly are not. Utilizing public transportation is not only cost-effective for money, it can also save you time. While on the bus or on the train, you can read, answer e-mails or take calls -- all things unsafe to do while driving. Other ways to get around include organizing a carpool with others on the same schedule, walking or biking. If doing these things regularly is not feasible, consider setting up a special event, such as a “Bike to Work Day,” to see if you can contribute at least once while encouraging others to try it as well.
- Turn off and unplug appliances when you are not using them: Computers, printers, fax machines and other wired devices save us time when we are using them, but can cost us money when we are not. In sleep mode –- and even when they are off but plugged in -– these appliances use power and add to your electricity bill. Help conserve energy and your bank account by turning off and unplugging these appliances when you are not using them.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Waste Management of Northern California is a community-based provider of environmental solutions. We offer residential and commercial curbside collection for recycling, composting and disposal. Our fleet of natural gas vehicles are powered with gas made from trash at the Altamont Landfill in Livermore. WM EarthCare (www.wmearthcare.com) is our closed loop solution to organic waste. We deliver local solutions with the knowledge and resources of the nation’s largest recycler, Waste Management.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also one of the largest residential recycler and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com.
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