Most people have become familiar with the concepts of basic household recycling. But maximizing the efficiency of natural resources, and protecting them for future generations, means breaking the habit of sending an item to the blue bin after just one use. Take for example, disposable cutlery. Recyclable plastic spoons, used by guests of a birthday party, can be washed several times and reused in school lunches, at picnics, or as tools in art projects before being sent to local recycle centers. Non-recyclable items like clothing and linens can be reused and transformed into costumes for Halloween trick-or-treating or Christmas plays; or pillow slipcovers. Even Styrofoam meat trays can be cleaned and reused as paint palettes for art projects or under furniture as casters after carpet cleaning.

Precycling is another strategy for sustainable living. Precycling practices are preventive behaviors that, when practiced, can significantly reduce the amount of resources needed to manufacture goods. Precycling is an especially important strategy in making non-renewable resources like oil stretch further, and also in helping to reduce the amount of energy required to process recyclable goods.

Here are the top six ways everyone can precycle to save resources:

1. Bring and use bags from home when grocery shopping
2. Purchase items made from factory scraps. These precycled products include everything from stationery made with paper factory remnants, to doormats made from the trimmings of rubber sandals. These products are usually labeled "precycled".
3. When considering two similar products, choose the one with the least amount of packaging.
4. Buy products in recycled packaging.
5. Minimize your use of disposable items. This is as easy as using your own commuter mug instead of a Styrofoam cup when buying coffee "to go".
6. Buy large/bulk quantities of items that are used often, and then transfer them into your own storage containers at home.

So remember: Winter, spring, summer or fall - Use resources wisely through them all!

Do you have a recycling tip to share with others? Send your helpful hint to Michelle Costa, Recycling Coordinator, and it may end up on the TCSD website! Michelle can be contacted at mcosta@templetoncsd.org.

Talking Trash

• Secure trash can lids before placing cans on the street for pick-up, and bring cans in promptly after emptying.
• When you see trash littering the street in front of your home, along your walking route, or in any other area you frequent, pick it up.
• Talk to your children about not littering on their way home from school, at parks or any other place they may visit outside your supervision.
• Organize a neighborhood clean-up group.
• Paticipate in TCSD’s Annual Clean Up Day each fall.