Reuse Stats and Tips

1.) Stat: Every year Californians generate 66 million tons of solid waste, of which approximately one third is packaging. (The California Integrated Waste Management Board)
Tip: Reuse packing materials (foam peanuts, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes) or find someone who can, such as your local packaging store.

2.) Stat: According to the EPA, between 1960 and 2007 the amount of waste each person
creates has almost doubled from 2.7 to 4.6 pounds per day.
Tip: Turn normal household waste into a fun family craft. Use old bottles, shampoo containers, etc. into vases, shoe boxes into memory boxes, or old paper scraps into note pads. Get more great ideas from www.recycling-revolution.com/reuse-trash-ideas.html

3.) Stat: Every man, woman, and child in the country spends an average of $1,000 a year on new clothes, and likely throws away 68 pounds of clothing each year. Tip: Purchase clothing at a second hand store, and make sure your unwanted clothing is reused, by donating it to The Closet or to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill.

4.) Stat: Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year and 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour. Tip: Invest in a reuseable/refillable coffee travel mug or water bottle.

5.) Stat: 40% of all trash in landfills is paper.
Tip: We can alleviate this by purchasing a reusable coffee filter:http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/food-drink/coffee/tips/choose-reusable-or-recycled-coffee-filters

6.) Stat: Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools which end up in landfills.
Tip: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery re-charger (some battery re-chargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).

7.) Stat: There are at least 300 million scrap tires in stockpiles in the U.S. In addition, approximately 281 million scrap tires were generated in 2001.
Tip: Take your used tires to be shred for use around your home, such as cushion under play equipment.

8.) Stat: An estimated 8 billion pounds of plastic bags, wraps and sacks enter the waste stream every year in the US alone.
Tip: Use reusable shopping bags, lunch pails and reusable containers to avoid creating unnecessary waste.