How to precycle

Recycling's great, but go even greener by precycling as well, and create less waste to recycle in the first place.

Step 1: Think ahead
Bring reusable sacks and containers to the supermarket to carry your items in the cart, rather than using the clear plastic bags that stores provide. When checking out, place all your purchases into reusable bags.

Step 2: Eat, drink, and be practical
Take a thermos to the cafe, or fill it at home; pack a lunch in a box or insulated sack instead of a paper or plastic bag; drink tap water instead of bottled; and buy fresh foods rather than prepackaged. Carry cloth handkerchiefs, and ask take-out joints to hold the plastic cutlery, individual condiment servings, and paper napkins.

Step 3: Go digital
Set up your bills for auto pay. You’ll cut out excess mail and avoid late fees. Read online editions of newspapers and magazines, which are often free and feature additional multimedia content. To prevent unwanted catalogs or junk mail, request to be removed from the company’s mailing list.

Step 4: Cut out single-use products
Avoid buying single- or limited-use products, such as disposable diapers, cleansing face wipes, and razors.

Step 5: Precycle on the job
At work, think twice before printing out emails or documents. Double-sided copies also reduce paper consumption. Posting employee manuals and memos online creates less paper waste and makes the documents easier to update.

Step 6: Clean more with less
Use concentrated dish and laundry detergents, which pack more cleaning power into less packaging.

Step 7: Scent your home naturally
Fill your home with the natural scent of houseplants or potpourri instead of using store-bought air fresheners, especially ones with disposable cartridges.

Step 8: Don't trash gift wrap
Avoid excess garbage when gift-giving by wrapping presents in reusable cloth or cloth bags. Often, the best gifts need no wrapping at all.