The family who reduces waste in the home helps protect our environment. Waste reduction is as important as recycling in saving natural resources, energy, and disposal space and costs, and in reducing pollution risks. Careful buying and disposal habits can also stretch the family budget.

Tips:

There is only one thing better than recycling or reusing to lower the amount of waste that we send to the landfill -- precycling. Watch what you buy! Waste reduction starts at the shopping center. Shop smart and think before you buy. When you go shopping follow these guidelines:

• Buy durable products instead of those that are disposable or cheaply made.
• Repair/restore used items before replacing them.
• Buy items you can re-use. Re-using margarine tubs to freeze foods or pack lunches, for instance, reduces the need for foil or plastic wrap.
• Buy items you can recycle locally through curbside collection or recycling centers.
• Avoid excess packaging when choosing product brands. Buy products in bulk. Buy just the amount you need: larger sizes reduce the amount of packaging, but smaller sizes reduce leftover waste.

Avoid impulse buying. Not only will you end up with something you can't use and have to throw away, but it will also be very expensive. One way to avoid this is to make a shopping list of what you need, then stick to that list. Buy only what you need.

Other tips:

• Grasscycle: reduce the amount of yard waste you create.
• Put paper towels out of easy reach so they will be used only when needed. Set up a countertop or wall holder for sponges, rags and cloth towels.
• Buy beverages in returnable or recyclable containers. Most beverages are packaged in recyclable materials, which include glass, plastic milk and water jugs (HPDE), plastic soda bottles (PET), and aluminum.
• Buy concentrated products to reduce packaging. Examples are concentrated fruit juice, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and window cleaner.
• Avoid buying packaged foods with disposable, nonreheatable microwave dishes. If you must buy them, the dishes can be re-used as picnic plates, plant saucers or pet dishes.
• If your favorite brands have excessive packaging or are not as durable as they should be, contact the manufacturers and express your concern about reducing waste and conserving natural resources.
• Carry a canvas or net tote bag when you shop. Not only is it a safe, convenient way to carry purchases, but it eliminates the need for the merchants' disposable paper or plastic bags, too.
• Letters and other correspondence that are printed on one side only can be cut along the folds and re-used to make shopping lists.
• Cancel subscriptions to magazines or newspapers that you don't actually read, especially if you could read them at the local library. Give old issues to friends, co-workers, nursing homes, laundromats or libraries.
• Use carpools or public transit to extend the wear of cars and tires and reduce car maintenance wastes such as used oil.
• Reduce toxic waste by purchasing paints, pesticides and other hazardous materials only in the quantities needed, or by sharing leftovers.
• Americans throw away about 2.5 billion disposable razors every year. Use an electric shaver or a quality razor with replaceable blades.
• Bar soap generates less packaging waste and is less expensive than liquid soap in plastic bottles with pump dispensers.
• Take proper care of shoes and clothing and repair them to extend use.
• Don't discard usable clothing or household items. Hold a yard sale or donate the items to charitable organizations. Worn clothing and other textiles can be used as rags or for craft projects.
• List all the things you can recycle through your city's curbside program or your local recycling center. Then list the things in your trash that are nonrecyclable. Next time you go shopping, look for recyclable substitutes.