Environmentally Friendly tips

• Compost your food scraps, grass clippings, leaves and other yard debris. Not only will you cut your garbage output by a third (or even half) you will also help maintain the health of the soil.
• Do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides on your lawn or garden. If you apply compost to your soil your plants will be less susceptible to damage from insects or diseases. Organic fertilizers such as blood or bone meal, composted manure & others will provide necessary nutrients as the plants need them.
• Do not buy toxic products. Avoid lead-based paints, automatic toilet bowl cleaners, phosphate detergents, synthetic air fresheners, spray starch and other hazardous products. Remember that all life on this planet is interconnected. Everything that we use will end up in the air, the water or the soil...and ultimately, inside our bodies.
• Make litterless lunches for kids and parents. Avoid pre- packaged, ready-made foods (they are not as healthy as foods you prepare from fresh ingredients anyway!). Sandwiches or salads can be taken to school or work in reusable plastic containers. Hot or cold drinks can go in a lightweight thermos. Include an inexpensive washable cloth serviette.
• Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible. Do not discard used household batteries in the garbage. Take your used batteries to the next household hazardous waste collection days.
• Buy beverages in refillable bottles. Shop at a store that sells food in bulk and bring your own bags/containers to reduce packaging waste.
• Refuse junk mail.
• BAG IT - Bring your own reusable cloth bags when you go shopping.
• REUSE MILK BAGS - Instead of buying individual sandwich or freezer bags, cut open the top of milk bags; they are easy to clean and sturdier for reuse. Keep the twist ties from bread bags to seal your "new" bags.
• REUSE EGG CARTONS - Take your egg cartons to a farmers' market so that they can be reused, or get the kids to use them for art projects, or compost them.
• YARD SALES - Get your friends and neighbours together and organize a giant yard sale of used clothing, appliances, books, magazines, knickknacks and other unwanted goods.
• COMPOST - Set up a worm composting bin in your office, school, house or apartment.
• Recycle as much as you can through your blue box or depot recycling program.
• Use reusable cloths and rags instead of paper towels to clean.
• Repair any appliances or furniture that can be fixed up, before replacing them with new ones.

If you have any questions, call Dufferin County?s Waste Management Information Line at (519) 941-2816 ext. 2620.