Ten Easy Ways to Help the Environment

Portland, Oregon (June 20, 2006) - Most of us already recycle our cans, bottles and paper materials by putting them into the yellow curbside bins. And while many people want to do more, they are afraid it might involve an unmanageable commitment. Fortunately, there are things that we can all do at home that don’t take a lot of time or energy.

“It’s all about ‘precycling,’ which means prethinking your purchases and making selective shopping choices that reduce waste before you buy something,” said Lori Chance, the co-owner of Cartridge World in Portland which remanufactures inkjet and laser printer cartridges.

There are ten “precycling” strategies that make a positive environmental impact with relatively little effort:

1. Buy local: Consider how far a product has been shipped to reach the shelves. When a product is trucked just a short distance, it causes fewer petroleum emissions in the atmosphere.

2. Buy long-lasting products that can be maintained or repaired.

3. Avoid disposables by buying reusable alternatives from obvious choices such as refillable razors to the less obvious such as printer cartridges.

4. Buy in bulk rather than single-serve packaging.

5. Rent, borrow or buy used products through websites such as Craigslist and Freecycle.

6. Carry reusable bags for your purchases - some supermarkets will provide a discount when you bring your own bags.

7. Carry your own coffee mug for take-out beverages - some coffee shops will actually give you a discount for doing this.

8. Be picky about packaging - avoid individually packaged products, packages made of several layers, packages made of composite materials. Oftentimes people think certain packaging materials are recyclable when they actually are not.

9. Express yourself by telling store managers and manufacturers about the kinds of packaging you prefer.

10. Teach your children to “precycle” - show them how you choose products and packaging that preserve the environment.