Precycling

Exactly what is precycling?

"Pre" means "before" and "precycling" means we can "prevent the need to recycle" by taking a little action before. How do you do that? It's easy. Here are some simple examples:

• If you bring your own bags to the store with you, you not only prevent having to recycle additional bags, you recycle an existing bag.
• If you buy less disposable items or none at all (cloth napkins, towels and diapers instead of paper ones), you prevent more things from ending up in a landfill, and you don't use any packaging.
• If you buy "long life" products (such as batteries and light bulbs) or "concentrated" products (such as juices or detergents), you not only prevent buying unnecessary packaging, but you prevent more products from ending up in a landfill!

Consider these tips to reduce your waste:

Reduce

• Rent items you use infrequently.
• Educate others about the 3R's.
• Donate your old clothes to charity.
• Use cloth or other reusable bags.
• Compost!
• Escape waste by purchasing in bulk.

Reuse

• Refuse to purchase over-packaged products.
• Earn extra cash by having a yard sale.
• Use a refillable mug or glass.
• Share your newspapers, magazines & books.
• Establish a recycling program at your business.

Recycle

• Rechargeable instead of disposable batteries.
• Eliminate the purchase of disposable products.
• Consider packing lunches in reusable containers.
• You can make a difference.
• Choose products containing recycled materials.
• Lend support to local recycling programs.
• Encourage your friends and family to follow your good example.

What Is Grasscycling?

Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving the clippings on the lawn when mowing. Grass clippings decompose quickly and release valuable nutrients back into your lawn. A 1,000 square foot lawn can produce between 200-500 pounds of grass clippings in one year. You save time and effort by grasscycling and grass clippings are an excellent source of nitrogen. Every time you mow your lawn and allow the grass clippings to remain, you are returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

Mowing Tips:

• Any mower can be used in grasscycling. Just remove the grass catching bag. In some mowers, it may be necessary to install a small plug or mulching adapter if you remove the bag.
• When it's time to replace your mower, consider a mulching, recycling or nonpolluting reel mower.
• Regardless of what type of mower you use, it's important to keep the blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass damaging your lawn.
• Don't cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. If you have gotten lax in your mowing and your lawn is very high, raise the mower height. Over the next several mowings, lower the mower height.
• Never mow when the grass is wet!

Cancel Unwanted Mail & Phone Books

• Call toll-free numbers on catalogs and ask that you be removed from their mailing list.
• Register your mail preferences with the Direct Marketing Association at https://www.dmachoice.org/register.php
• Call 1-888-567-8688 to opt out of credit card promotional mailings.
• Contact the Yellow Pages Association and the Association of Directory Publishers at www.yellowpagesoptout.com to select which phone directories you receive or to stop delivery of all directories.

Publications

Brochures regarding the following subjects can be obtained by calling the Regional Waste Management Authority at (530) 634-6890:

• Household Hazardous Waste
• Non-Toxic Alternatives
• Hazardous Waste Disposal for Businesses & Organizations (Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators)

Links

Additional information regarding waste reduction can be found on the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s Waste Reduction for Homes, Businesses, Venues and Events and Schools webpage.