Waste Reduction

Reducing Packaging Waste

Packaging accounts for nearly a third of municipal solid waste in the United States, according to the U.S. EPA. Reduce your impact by:

• Carry your own reusable bag, water bottle, coffee cup, straw, and utensils to reduce single use disposables. Learn more about how reusable bags are making an impact in Alameda County here. 
• Buy in bulk. This will save you money on top of reducing packaging waste.  
• Buy loose products, such as fruits and vegetables, instead of pre-packaged goods.
• When comparing similar items from two brands, choose the one with less packaging. 
• Reuse packaging products, like paper and plastic bags, tins and wrapping paper whenever possible.
• Reduce the amount of mail you receive. Go paperless with bills and bank statements and opt out of receiving junk mail and catalogs to your home. 
• Buy secondhand to save money, preserve natural resources, and avoid packaging. Take advantage of local thrift stores or free and for-sale apps to see what items your Dublin neighbors are looking to rehome. 

Reduce, Reuse, and Repair

The best way to reduce waste is to reduce consumption and buy only what you need. The next best way is to reuse and repair. Get creative and think of ways you can reuse old materials around the home for crafts, DYI projects, or gift giving. 

• Check out StopWaste's RE:Source guide to reuse, repair, and recycling just about anything. 
• Another way to reduce waste is to repair items that are broken instead of buying new items. Many household items can be repaired. Check for community repair events and Fixit Clinics near you.

Prevent Edible Food Waste

The average family of four throws away $1,600 worth of food annually. Visit StopFoodWaste.org for food saving tips and tricks, tools and resources, and easy ideas to repurpose leftovers. Making these small shifts in your lifestyle will save you money and keep the valuable resources used to produce and distribute food from going to waste.

Food is too essential to throw away. Students from Jason Ewing's 5th grade class at John Green Elementary have transformed into Food Rescuer Action Heroes! Through their partnership with StopWaste's Food Too Good to Waste Action Project, they provide strategies and solutions on how to Stop Food Waste! Their video won "Honorable Mention" in the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and UN Environment's Make #NotWasting Food a Way of Life video contest in 2017.