Reduce

Vice Chancellor Stan Nosek using an R4 Mug

Take a look at what you're consuming. Sure, it's great to buy things and then recycle them, but why not skip the purchase in the first place?

Reducing the amount of trash generated at the source (for example, on campus or at home) is the number one waste management priority of the UC Davis R4 Program. A person or a department may reduce the number of items which need disposal by considering certain things before making purchases. Some people call this "recycling." Some suggestions for source reduction include:

• Avoid purchasing disposable goods (i.e. paper towels, disposable razors, etc.)
• Buy in bulk and use your own container.
• Buy products with minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Avoid plastic packaging which cannot be recycled.
• Use concentrated products, such as powdered detergent, rather than liquids in plastic bottles.
• Buy products made with recycled materials.
• Take your own bags to the store.
• Carry a reusable mug.
• Use electronic mail.
• Make double-sided copies.
• Use one-sided paper for scratch paper and note pads.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Use long-life fluorescent light bulbs.
• Voice your product packaging preferences to store managers and business owners.
• Rethink, "Do I really need this item?"
• Consider a new product's expected durability and ease of repair in addition to its purchase price when you are shopping.

Selected Issues: Waste Reduction

• Electronic Mail: Campus computing services provides electronic mail (e-mail) services to departments. This system significantly reduces the amount of paper used for inter-campus correspondence.
  
  
• Paper Versus Plastic Grocery Bags: Both types of bags have environmental shortcomings. Most brown paper bags are made of virgin materials. Their advantage is that they are reusable and recyclable. Most plastic bags are made of petrochemical resins and are not biodegradable.

  A better alternative to both types of bags is a cloth or string bag which can be used over and over. Many of our local grocery stores now carry a variety of reusable bags.

• Drink Boxes: Aseptic packages, a.k.a. drink boxes, used to hold fruit juices and milk are not reusable, compostable, or biodegradable, and are difficult to recycle.An environmentally sound alternative to drink boxes are refillable containers.