{"id":8416,"date":"2018-04-18T18:40:06","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T22:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/?page_id=8416"},"modified":"2026-04-23T20:17:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T00:17:11","slug":"reduce-reuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/toward-zero-waste-2\/reduce-reuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Reduce\/Reuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why aim to reduce your waste?\u00a0 Because we produce so much of it, often unnecessarily and\/or for mere convenience.\u00a0 The EPA estimates that Americans use over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling\/frequent-questions-regarding-epas-facts-and#PlasticBags\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>4 million tons<\/strong><\/a> of plastic bags\/wraps each year.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/productstewardship.us\/products\/junk-mail\/#:~:text=100%20million%20trees%20are%20cut,annually%20\u2013%20about%20300%20per%20person.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Product Stewardship Institute<\/a>, the junk mail that clutters our mailboxes adds up to <strong>100 billion<\/strong> pieces each year. Worldwide, more than <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2023\/06\/1137322\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">400 million tonnes<\/a> (440 million US tons) of plastic\u202fare produced every year, half of which are single use items. \u00a0<\/span>We can and <em><strong>must<\/strong> <\/em>do better &#8211; we must use <em><strong>less<\/strong><\/em>, and for the stuff we do use, make it as sustainable as possible.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Work towards zero waste by taking the following actions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- Item 1 --><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9498 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/pic-reusable-coffee-mugs-e1539699336352.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"224\" \/><span style=\"color: #276cdc;\"><b><strong>Reduce or Eliminate Your Use of Single-use Items<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Bring your own reusable bags when shopping, or carry out items by hand if no bag is needed. This avoids both plastic and paper bags. Reusable bags also take energy to produce, so use them as long as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Stop buying bottled water &#8211; buy a reusable water bottle <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and fill it up wherever you go<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 (Stainless steel and glass are two alternatives to plastic water bottles.) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are worried about the quality of your tap water, read the <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.needhamma.gov\/298\/Drinking-Water-Quality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Town of Needham Water Quality Report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For another layer of protection, you can buy a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewg.org\/tapwater\/water-filter-guide.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">water filter<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Take reusable items to events (or work) &#8211; regular cups, plates, and utensils instead of disposables.<\/li>\n<li>Bring your own container for leftovers at a restaurant.<\/li>\n<li>Use real plates, cups and silverware at home instead of disposable products.<\/li>\n<li>Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins and rags in place of paper towels.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When traveling or to prepare for eating somewhere that doesn\u2019t have silverware, you can <\/span>easily put together your own set of travel utensils.<\/li>\n<li>Need some help?\u00a0 Check out Green Needham&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/alternatives-to-plastic-in-our-homes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alternative to Plastics in our Homes<\/a> web page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Item 2 --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9498 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flat-lay-cardboard-minimal-recycling-concept-B_23-2149439659.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"170\" \/><span style=\"color: #276cdc; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 1.0em !important; font-weight: bold;\">Refuse Unwanted Stuff, and Proactively Choose Minimal and\/or Sustainable Packaging<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Refuse &#8220;free&#8221; unsolicited stuff that you neither need not want.<\/li>\n<li>Seek out and choose either minimal or recyclable\/compostable packaging choices when shopping online.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid single serving packaging and single-use utensils\u00a0 (now that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/2026\/01\/january-focus-less-plastic-more-progress-needhams-journey-so-far\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Skip the Stuff<\/a> is mandated in Needham, such items are only to be given in take-out or delivery orders <strong>upon request<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li>Buy food in bulk when available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Item 3 --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9498 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/junk-mail-pro-quo-mailbox-pic-with-x.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"125\" \/><span style=\"color: #276cdc; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 1.0em !important; font-weight: bold;\">Reduce Paper Use<br \/>\n<\/span><em>Eliminate unwanted junk mail that&#8217;s cluttering up your mailbox!<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optoutprescreen.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Opt out prescreen<\/a> &#8211; &#8220;Opt out&#8221; of unsolicited credit card offers for five years or permanently.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.catalogchoice.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catalog Choice<\/a> &#8211; non-profit online resource that helps you cancel the catalogs that you do not want to receive.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmachoice.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Direct Marketing Association (DMA) choice<\/a> &#8211; website that allows you to reduce unsolicited mailings from companies with which you have no relationship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Get more ideas! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/moving-towards-zero-waste-top-10-actions-you-can-take\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Moving Towards Zero Waste &#8212; Top 10 Actions You Can Take<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/toward-zero-waste-2\/participate-in-the-circular-economy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Participating in the Circular Economy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnc-resources-header\">Resources<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"gnc-resources-subheader\">Documents<\/h5>\n\t\t<ul class=\"documents\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"document document-16034\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/documents\/2022\/11\/2022-rsw-forum-needham-dpw-rsw-presentation.pdf\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t11\/2\/22 Recycling &#038; Solid Waste Forum  &#8211; Needham DPW RSW Presentation\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"document document-16027\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/documents\/2022\/11\/2022-rsw-forum-casella-presentation.pdf\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t11\/2\/22 Recycling &#038; Solid Waste Forum &#8211; Casella Presentation\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"document document-8635\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/documents\/2018\/05\/nrc-press-release-china-and-recyclables-051518.docx\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tNRC Press Release: China and Recyclables 051518\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\n<h5 class=\"gnc-resources-subheader\">Links on the Web<\/h5>\n<!-- Links --><table style=\"margin:0;padding:0;\"><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baystatetextiles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bay-State-Textiles-logo.png\" border=0 style=\"width:100px\"><\/a>\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baystatetextiles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bay State Recycling<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Recycles worn, ripped and stained textiles into insulation, carpet padding, soundproofing material, and industrial wiping cloths.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/green-gifts?link_id=2&#038;can_id=52ead76c2f2f5614cef43dde3e708593&#038;source=email-green-gifting-101-top-tips-for-plastic-free-sustainable-holiday-gifts\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beyond_Plastics_logo-2.png\" border=0 style=\"width:100px\"><\/a>\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/green-gifts?link_id=2&#038;can_id=52ead76c2f2f5614cef43dde3e708593&#038;source=email-green-gifting-101-top-tips-for-plastic-free-sustainable-holiday-gifts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Beyond Plastics<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Beyond Plastics - Plastic Free\/Zero Waste Holiday Gift Guide\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/projects\/living-green\/recyclopedia\/\" target=\"_blank\">Green Needham Recyclopedia<\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.needhamma.gov\/index.aspx?NID=262\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/NeedhamTownSeal.png\" border=0 style=\"width:100px\"><\/a>\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.needhamma.gov\/index.aspx?NID=262\" target=\"_blank\">Needham Recycling and Transfer Station<\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartasn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/SMART_logo.jpg\" border=0 style=\"width:100px\"><\/a>\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartasn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Educational Resource for Textile Recycling\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ssrcoop.info\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/south-shore-recycling-coop-logo.png\" border=0 style=\"width:100px\"><\/a>\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ssrcoop.info\/\" target=\"_blank\">South Shore Recycling Cooperative<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Provides support and education for correct recycling and waste minimization practices \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><\/table>\n<!-- \/Links -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore easy, common sense ways to reduce your waste: bring re-useable shopping bags to stores, shut off junk mail, eliminate single-use plastic items, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5510,"parent":7259,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8416","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reduce-reuse-recycle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8416"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20054,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8416\/revisions\/20054"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7259"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}