3 Rs Shopping Green A Guide to Green

3 R’s & Shopping Green A Guide to Green Shopping By Michael Patton, Executive Director The Metropolitan Environmental Trust, the M. e. t. Tulsa, Oklahoma

On Average Americans generate 4. 5 lbs. of trash per day = 1600 lbs. of trash per year

Total MSW Generation in 2010 250 Million Tons (before recycling) EPA-530 -F-11 -005 | November 2011| www. epa. gov/wastes

Where does your trash go?

The 3 R’s Redu ce § § Reuse Recyc le §

R E D U C E § Use less stuff. § Purchase exactly what is needed. § Look at packaging. § Buy in bulk.

R E U S E § B. O. B. (Bring Own Bag § Plastic and paper bags § Water Bottles § Steel Cans § Glass Jars § Cereal Boxes

Minimize the bottle! Save your money! Americans spend about $11, 000 per minute on bottled water. Tap water costs an average of $. 002 per gallon while a gallon of bottled water costs from $0. 89 to $8. 26 per gallon.

R E C Y C L E Owasso Recycling Center § Location: 499 South Main Owasso, OK § Phone: 918 -272 -4991 § Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Saturday 9: 00 AM – 5: 00 PM WE ACCEPT: Closed designated holidays. Glass Motor oil Aluminum Newspaper Passenger Tires Office Paper Antifreeze Phone books Batteries Plastics (#1 & #2) Cardboard Cooking oil

R E T H I N K Before you buy: § Do I really need it? § Packaging Bulk § Responsible Manufacturer § How far did it travel to get here? § Trash or Recycle § You vote every time you spend a dollar

Recycling Reduces Energy Consumption § § § Making new steel from old scrap offers up to 75% energy savings. Producing aluminum from scrap instead of bauxite ore cuts energy use by 95%, yet we still through away more than a million tons of aluminum per year. Paper recycling could save up to 70% of the energy needed to create paper from new timber.

Compost Organic Waste Compost your leaves, grass and food waste instead of sending them to the landfill. Most natural garden wastes can be composted, thus yielding free fertilizer without polluting the air.

Buy Local Buy Recycled Packaging Buy Recyclable Packaging Buy Reduced Packaging

Every dollar I spend is a vote for the environment. People want to be better shoppers.

§ § § Package Material Storage Shipping Reuse Disposal

Produce Aisle

Packaging by Mother Nature COMPOSTABLE Fair Trade, Country of Origin and Buy Local when available

What is Organic? Organic food must be produced without the use of sewer-sludge fertilizers, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and irradiation. A variety of agricultural products can be produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs and processed food products.

Baskets, Bags and Trays Bananas and Banana Bread

Meat & Dairy Aisle

Re-sealable Bag Fresh, Frozen or Canned

Average Annual Expenditure Meat, Poultry, Fish & Eggs 15 percent of American’s total food budget is spent on meat, poultry, fish & eggs. Food Institute analysis based on Bureau of Labor statistics

Use a meal planner to reduce waste!

Paper or cardboard vs. Polystyrene egg cartons

§ Buying in the deli allows for portion control § Paperboard milk cartons vs. Plastic milk jugs § Natural vs. Dyed containers

Bottle Grade Plastics 94 percent of plastic bottles are #1 or #2 vs. plastic tubs.

Cereal Aisle

Cereal Boxes as Art

Box is Pure Marketing The One Box we Read

§ § § Bag inside a Box vs. Bag only 100% Recycled Rising Post. Consumer Content

Beverage Aisle

Total U. S. Beverage Consumption in 2005 § § § Carbonated Soft Drinks 28. 3% Bottled Water 10. 7% Milk 10. 9% Coffee 9. 0% Beer 11. 7% Fruit Beverages 4. 7% Sports Drinks 2. 3% Tea 3. 8% Wine 1. 2% Distilled Spirits 0. 7% All Others 15. 3% Source – American Beverage Association

53 million plastic bottles are thrown in the trash every day. In Tulsa, the average household buys 225 bottles of water per year. Of those, 16 are recycled.

Snack Aisle

Chips vs. Crackers Give Piece a Chance

Paper Product Aisle

Virgin vs. Post Consumer

§ Grades of Paper § Recycle-phobia § Quality of Products

Cleaning/Household Products

§ § § Beware of words like ‘toxic’, ‘hazardous’, and ‘caution’ on label Find safer alternatives Buy Concentrated?

Natural Drain Cleaner § § 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup white vinegar Boiling water Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar § Cover the drain, if possible. Let set for 5 minutes. § Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain.

At the Checkout Paper vs. Plastic

Recap Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the right order. People who recycle create jobs. It is not just the product; it is also the package. Save the planet.

The Metropolitan Environmental Trust Michael Patton, Executive Director recyclemichael@yahoo. com Metrecycle. com 918 -584 -0584 Facebook. com/the. METrecycle