National Pollution Prevention Week: September 21-27

National Pollution Prevention Week is September 21-27. It's great to recycle and treat waste, but preventing pollution in the first place saves money and protects the environment.

One way to avoid garbage ending up in landfills is to reduce waste. Oftentimes, when visiting with a client in our sustainability consulting, we explain that waste reduction is the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Practicing waste reduction is a component of living a sustainable lifestyle.

What does reducing waste mean? When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you eliminate the disposing of waste or recycling it later. In honor of National Pollution Prevention Week, following are areas we explore in our eco friendly consulting to encourage others to reduce waste.

Reduce waste at home:

Reduce food waste.
Reduce paper consumption.
Purchase products that are returnable, reusable or refillable. Or, Rent or borrow instead of purchasing.
Use reusable and refillable containers in your home instead of disposable items.
Use less water and less energy.

Reduce waste at work:

Commute smarter: teleworking, coworking, bike commuting.
Green your transportation.
Green your office or cubicle.
Go paperless.
Recycle electronic waste responsibly.

Reducing pollution before it ever gets to the environment is one of the most important ways to protect the environment. By reducing our energy and creating less waste, for example, we reduce the need for expensive environmental controls, treatment, disposal - and even cleanup.