Shopping

• REFUSING plastic straws, plastic bags, freebies, and other disposable items will REDUCE your trash.

• If you don’t really need it, don’t get it.  Tips can be found at Buy Nothing.

• Shop at second-hand stores or buy used items on Craigslist. 

• Use items until they wear out.

• If something breaks, repair or have it repaired. Mend your clothes.

Food Waste

• A good website for tips on reducing food waste: savethefood.com 

Unnecessary Paper

• Paper Karma - a free app, available on iPhone, Android and Windows Phone, that allows recipients of junk mail to snap a photo of the flyer, catalog, magazine or other offer and, in a few simple clicks, unsubscribe from the distributor’s list.

• DMAChoice - You can request to stop receiving 4 categories of mail: Credit Offers, Catalogs, Magazine Offers and Other Mail Offers, and you can stop receiving mail from individual companies within each category—or from an entire category. There is a $2 processing fee for a 10-year registration. Note that DMAChoice does not exclude mail from stores that you do business with. So if you want to stop receiving their catalogues you will need to call them or write to them directly.

Entertaining

• When you host events, use reusable plates and utensils rather than disposable ones. Use cloth napkins instead of paper.

Grocery Shopping and Take-Out

• Carry a reusable water bottle.

• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store. It’s helpful to keep a highly visible stash in your car.

• Use lightweight cloth bags for produce such as these – or make simple ones yourself.

• Store a Zero Waste Kit, reusable coffee cup and reusable takeout containers in your car for routine use.

• Reduce packaging waste by buying food in bulk with your own reusable container.

• Buy household cleaners in bulk WHERE?.

Sharing

• Share large appliances such as a snowblower, lawn mower, or power tools with a neighbor.

• Exchange Free Items Around Sharon: Share Sharon Facebook Group. 

• Share items you no longer need with the local community: Freecycle 

• Donate items you no longer need to Habitat for Humanity ReStores (West Roxbury and Attleboro). They accept building materials, cabinetry and doors.

• Savers in Norwood accepts household Items which are gently used but still in working condition, which they donate to local charities or reuse organizations. 

•  New Life Home Refurnishing in Walpole accepts gently used furniture and household items and makes them available at no charge to those in need.  

• My Brother’s Keeper in Easton does home pick-ups of gently used furniture, which they donate to families in need.

PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU REDUCE YOUR WASTE!
Every month we will choose an idea submitted by a resident to share. Please email your ideas here.