What can you do to reduce waste? | Pierce County, WA

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Planning & Public Works
Recycle & Reduce Waste
Reduce Waste

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

There is a reason "reduce" is the first of the three Rs. The easiest way to manage waste is to not create it in the first place. Think reusable for items like bags, coffee cups and lunch containers. Help close the recycling loop by purchasing products made with recycled content. Buy durable items that will last, instead of flimsy items that break.

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Waste Less Tips

Follow us on Facebook to see our weekly "Waste Less Wednesday" tips or view them below! (Click on the photos below for any links.)
Find your local BuyNothing Group here! BuyNothing groups allow neighbors to gift items they no longer need. One person's trash is another's treasure!

Introducing Waste Less Wednesdays! Pierce County is committed to sustainability education, so each Wednesday in 2021, we'll be sharing a new waste reduction tip to help residents use less and recycle right. We're calling it Waste Less Wednesdays! Tip #1 - Subscribe to our Environmental Education Newsletter to have local sustainability education opportunities and news delivered right to your inbox. And check back each Wednesday in 2021 for a new Waste Less Wednesday tip! SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/list.aspx?ListID=414
Waste Less Wednesday Tip #2 - Please do not put your recyclables in plastic bags - they get caught in the sorting equipment. Instead, please bring them to a store that offers plastic bag and film recycling. To find the nearest drop-off location to you, visit https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/find-drop-off-location/.
Wasting less doesn't just apply to reducing packaging. Have you ever heard of food miles? Consider how far your food has traveled to get to your plate. Those berries from South America may be tempting in mid-winter, but your choices at the store impact the climate. *Visit eatlocalfirst.org to find local food near you! **Visit https://www.piercecountywa.gov/1561/Sustainable-Solutions-Series to sign up for our new environmental education series: Food & Our Changing Climate
Ordering take out is a great way to support local Pierce County restaurants, but much of the take out packaging is not recyclable in Pierce County's system. Use this handy takeout food recycling guide to know what can and can't be recycled in our system - and if you're eating at home, tell the restaurant you don't need plastic utensils or condiment packets.
Want to get outside this winter? Consider renting, borrowing, or purchasing secondhand gear. If you're getting rid of anything, try selling or donating it! OfferUp, Craigslist, and Buy Nothing Groups on Facebook are great places to find and sell gear. Click on the photo to find your local BuyNothing Group.
Roses are red, violets are blue. They aren't low-waste though, here's what you can do. This Valentine's Day, consider a more sustainable alternative for your sweetheart like a houseplant, coupon book, or plan an experience. If you do end up with flowers, be sure to put them in the yard waste bin when you're done with them.
Here in the PNW, we love our coffee and the environment, so make your coffee-drinking planet friendly by making smart coffee pod choices. If you use a Keurig or Nespresso machine, remember that the pods are not recyclable in your curbside recylcing. Reusable pods are available at most grocery stores and produce less waste. And if you grab a cup on the go, please remember that paper coffee cups, the plastic lid, straws and stirrers are also not recycleable. They belong in the trash with single-use coffee pods.
It's a great time to get cozy with a good book and "escape" for a while! The next time you're looking for an adventure close to home, head to a Pierce County library. Borrowing books as opposed to buying them is a great low waste and money saving alternative to buying new. They also have other sustainable options like e-books and audio books to check out.
According to waste sort data from 2018, paper accounts for 21% of the waste in our landfill! Instead of throwing it away, please recycle your paper right by following this simple paper recycling guide. Order a free magnet to help you know what goes in your reycycling cart, garbage can or to a drop off location at piercecountywa.gov/recycle..
No one likes getting bombarded with junk mail! Reduce your mail paper waste by unsubscribing from unsolicited advertising. And please remember that mixed paper, like your junk mail, can be recycled. Use the link here to cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings you receive:
One easy way to cut down on paper waste is to switch to electronic billing. Take it one step further by setting up automatic payments! Additionally, many retail stores offer emailed receipts. If you have reliable internet access, these are great ways to reduce paper waste!
"When you're grocery shopping, look for products in recyclable packaging. -->Select milk in plastic jugs or glass that can be returned to the store instead of cartons (as of 2019 we no longer accept milk cartons in recycling) -->Buy pasta in a box instead of crinkly plastic -->Skip the bagged produce for loose items Can you think of other simple and sustainable grocery store swaps?
Even though shredded paper is not accepted in the Pierce County's recycling program, you can minimize what you shred by only shredding paper with personal identifying information on it. Papers with basic info like name, address, phone number can be left intact and put in the recycling bin. Papers with information like account numbers, birth dates, passwords, pins and social security numbers should be shredded and put in the garbage. For more information, visit: https://www.atg.wa.gov/what-shred