Be Waste Wise

What can I do?

Americans produce an average of 4.3 pounds of waste every year.

To lower this amount you can:• Buy less packaging.• Re-use waste items.• Recycle and buy recycled goods.• Compost.

How do I buy less packaging? Purchase long-lasting, easy to repair, reusable

products.

Buy items in recyclable packaging.

Buy items with recycled content, even if they cost more.

Buy products that have the least amount of wrapping.

How can I re-use products? Re-use household waste items to minimize

environmental impact.

Buy beverages in reusable glass and plastic bottles.

Share old clothing and used furniture.

Have yard sales or give away leftover paint, lumber or other materials.

Why recycle?

More than half of all household waste is recyclable.

Recycling: Saves natural resources. Uses less energy than new production. Produces less waste than production from virgin

materials.

How do I get started recycling?

Inquire about your nearest recycling center or program.

Find out what materials they accept.

Set-up a process for sorting recyclables at your home.

Involve your whole family in recycling.

What is composting?

A controlled, natural process that breaks down organic material.

The end product is referred to as humus or compost.

Humus or compost is a good soil amendment.

What can I compost?

Leaves

Grass clippings

Straw

Certain food waste

Paper

What about food wastes?

Do compost: Fruit and vegetable peelings and scraps. Coffee grounds and tea bags.

Don’t compost: Meat products and scraps. Dairy products. Whole eggs.

How do I compost?

Buy or build a compost bin.

Put yard trimmings and food waste in the bin.

Stir and aerate the pile weekly.

Apply the final product to your lawn or garden.

What about burning waste? It is legal to burn household waste in Kentucky,

but there are restrictions.

Do not burn the following:• Plastic.• Rubber products.• Paints or chemicals.• Treated lumber.• Animal and vegetable matter.

Check local burning regulations.

On-site Waste Dumps:

Are prohibited by Kentucky law.

Are unsightly.

May contain harmful chemicals.

May be hazardous if:• Pesticide containers are not rinsed properly.• Tires, oil, antifreeze and household chemicals are

not disposed of properly.