Reduce
Waste Reduction simply means to minimize the amount of trash generated. The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it!
Be a careful shopper! As a consumer, you have purchasing power. As more and more people buy products that are reusable, refillable or concentrated, manufacturers will take notice and produce more of these products designed to reduce waste and promote reuse. While shopping, consider the following guidelines:
Avoid Excessive Packaging!
According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), of the 40 million tons of solid waste sent to landfills in California each year, over one quarter is packaging!
Restore/Refurbish
Some products simply need a tune-up, consider restoring products for reuse. Disposing of a product should be the last resort! Check out the Reuse page for more information.
Bring Your Own
Waste is minimized when using your own reusable bag(s), container(s), etc. Fill them up with bulk products.
Buy Only What is Needed
Avoid overpurchasing, particularly if the product can go bad over time.
Buy in Bulk
This decreases the amount of individually wrapped packaging and saves space in the landfill.
Buy Durable Products
A majority of the materials in the landfill are single-use and/or poorly made products.
Buy Refillable Products
This avoids single-use packaged products saving space in the landfill.
Buy Recyclable Products
Ensure the product is recyclable locally at the end of it’s usable life. Use the guide What is Recyclable? in the City of Red Bluff and unincorporated Tehama County, and What is Recyclable? in the City of Corning.
Stop unsolicited mail!
Unwanted/junk mail is more than a nuisance; it is a waste of resources. Remove your name from mail marketing lists with the help from the following organization(s):