Reduce Waste

What does it mean?

Stated simply, to reduce is to make or use less of something. More specifically, the term waste reduction is often defined as any action that prevents waste at the point of generation, to decrease the amount of trash that will be sent to the landfill or otherwise be released into the environment.

Reduce first. . .

There's a reason that every time you hear the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rebuy its in the same order. Reducing your waste is the first step in the heirarchy adopted by the New York State Legislature in 1988 because it has the most positive impact on the environment. By not using something in the first place, you save precious natural resources, energy, and landfill space.

How do I reduce?

There are so many ways to reduce what you use that the possibilities are endless! Below are a few examples of waste reduction. For more information, visit the Tips page via the link to the left.

• Buy in bulk to minimize packaging
• Purchase durable goods
• Repair broken items before buying a replacement
• Avoid buying surplus items just because they are a good price

Materials Database

For more suggestions about reducing waste, please refer to the materials database section of this website. In addition to including information about reusing, recycling, and waste disposal, this area also has several tips about reducing waste. Just look for the reduce box after having selected the material in question.