Reduce Reuse Recycle Tips
REDUCE the Use of Plastic and Paper Bags
Disposable bags can have a negative impact on our environment
- 91 billion plastic bags and 10 billion paper bags are used each year in the U.S.
- 60 plastic bags or 30 paper bags are used by an average family in just 4 trips to the grocery store
- The production of disposable bags utilizes natural resources and causes pollution
- Only a small percentage of plastic bags are currently recycled
- It takes plastic bags 1,000 years to breakdown
- Paper bags take up a lot of space in the landfill
REUSE Bags
- Each reusable bag eliminates the need for 1,000 plastic bags or 500 paper bags over its lifetime
Where can I buy a reusable bag? Ask where you shop – most stores are now selling reusable bags.
RECYCLE All Paper and Plastic Bags You May Receive
- Whole Foods, H-E-B, Randalls, Wal-Mart, Kroger, and the Fort Bend County Recycle Center.
RECYCLE Household Hazardous Waste
The U.S. EPA defines hazardous waste as “a waste with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment.” These materials contain at least one of four qualities: ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. According to the U.S. EPA, “certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers; contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets; and present hazards to children and pets”. Common household hazardous products include: pesticides, cleaners, medications, paint, and chemicals.
Common household hazardous cleaners may be replaced with more natural alternatives. Did you know rosemary can be used as a non-hazardous alternative to mothballs? Vinegar may be used for cleaning? For more information, please visit www.epa.gov or www.takecareoftexas.org.