1. Simple Reduce - Reuse - Recycle Practices
It’s Easy Being Green:
Simple Reduce - Reuse - Recycle Practices
Welcome!
{Your organization} is partnering with HandsOn Twin Cities to bring more awareness to Twin Cities residents about reduce-reuse-recycle topics.
All of this information is from This website is your go-to guide for waste and recycling in the Twin Cities.
Information provided by HandsOn Twin Cities and RethinkRecycling.com

2. Reduce - Reuse - Recycle
Currently each person in the Twin Cities metro area generates almost 7 pounds of waste each day, collectively that’s enough to fill the Metrodome 11 times every year!
Where does our garbage go?
40% of our garbage is recycled.
32% is processed at waste-to-energy facilities into electricity or burned for fuel.
26% is landfilled in Minnesota and other states.
2% must be specially managed because of its hazardous or toxic content.
Review next 2 slides of statistics.
You can make it more interactive by asking your audience to guess some of the stats before you reveal the information.
For example…
”what % of garbage is recycled?”
“what % is processed?” and so on.

3. Reduce - Reuse - Recycle
Every year each household gets over 39 pounds of unwanted, unsolicited mail.
Recycling is an important component to managing our waste problem, but alone, it is not enough.
Nearly 30% of our trash is packaging. Much of it is cardboard that can be reused or recycled.
About one-third of what we throw away at home is recyclable through curbside programs.
Our recycling rate in Minnesota has not significantly increased since 1998.
Last bullet (MN’s recycle rate):
There are many factors for this but the main reason is many people are uncertain of what can be recycled, especially paper products.

4. Why Do Your Part? Reducing, reusing, recycling:
Saves natural resources
Saves you money
Less trash going into landfills
Good for the planet!
I wanted to share these stats with you because it’s important that we are aware of the issues so we can take action.
Here are just a few reasons why we should do our part.
Audience participation: other reasons?

5. True or False
Nearly 1 billion credit card solicitations are sent to consumers every year.
False, 3 billion!
Buying items in bulk (large amount) reduces trash.
True, less packaging thrown away
Yogurt cups and pizza boxes are recyclable.
False, not currently accepted with curbside recycling
It is against state law for haulers to pick up recyclables and not recycle them.
True, what you put out for recycling is recycled
Audience activity:
Let’s take a minute to test your knowledge.
Read each statement (or ask a volunteer to). Have audience answer.
(After each statement, advance the powerpoint to reveal the answer.)
Let audience know that they will learn more about these issues in this presentation.

6. REDUCE Reduce junk mail Use less plastic Buy smart
The first topic we will learn about is REDUCING, specifically
Reducing junk mail
Using less plastic
Buying smart

7. Reduce Junk Mail
Is there an unwanted mail problem in the U.S.?! Let’s look at the numbers…
Shipped: 5.89 tons
Recycled: 2.28 tons
Garbage: 3.61 tons
Start small
Credit cards –
Advertising mail -
Manage your mail
Sort – Shred - Recycle
Read statistic.
If you just do one thing at all – get your names off mailing lists! Simply visit these websites.
Get in the habit managing your mail as soon as it comes in the door.
SORT – keep/file or recycle
SHRED – shred any confidential information
RECYCLE – recycle everything else
If you do this, very little mail (if any) will go in the trash.
HANDOUT: Hold the Mail

8. Use Less Plastic
Plastics can take up to 700 years to start to break down in landfills.
Use cloth bags for shopping (reuse or recycle plastic bags –
Use reusable beverage bottle
Use silverware instead of plasticware
Read statistic.
Briefly talk about these easy things to reduce the amount of plastic we use.
Examples of recyclable plastic bags (or review handout)
HANDOUT: It’s In the Bag

9. Buy Smart 30% of trash is packaging. Tips to buy smart:
Look for less packaging
Buy bulk whenever possible
Buy recycled products
“Post-consumer” means material has been used by consumers or businesses and collected in a recycling program.
Read statistic.
Talk about these ways to buy smart.
HANDOUT: Too Much Packaging is a Waste

10. Product Package Comparisons
Audience activity:
Look at Packaging Comparison slides or put together your own packaging demo.
HANDOUT: Product Package Comparison

11. Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings
Yogurt
Bulk: $3.09
Pre-packaged: $4.00
Cost Difference: $.91
Applesauce
Bulk: $2.63
Pre-packaged: $4.86
Cost Difference: $2.23

12. Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings
Hot Cocoa
Bulk: $2.99
Pre-packaged: $3.96
Cost Difference: $.97
Popcorn
Bulk: $1.29
Pre-packaged: $4.77
Cost Difference: $3.48

13. Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings
Oreos
Bulk: $2.88
Pre-packaged: $7.47
Cost Difference: $4.59
Minute Maid
Bulk: $1.50
Pre-packaged: $3.49
Cost Difference: $1.99

14. Product Package Comparisons for Equal Servings
Bulk Items Pre-Packaged
Total: $ Total: $28.55
Ask audience:
Which is least wasteful? (bulk items because they have less packaging)
Which is less expensive? (bulk items)
Why are items wrapped in individual containers? (for convenience, portion control, “100 calorie craze” is causing problems)
In most cases pre-packaged products cost twice as much. We are paying for the packaging. We are buying trash!
Difference in Cost: $14.17

15. REUSE Shop used Greening your events Creative ways to reuse
Let’s talk about easy ways to REUSE like
Shopping used
Greening events and parties
Finding new uses for old things

16. Shop Used Borrow, rent or shop used first.
In Hennepin County, 32 million pounds of usable clothing & household goods is thrown away every year.
Borrow, rent or shop used first.
Shop thrift stores, garage sales.
Donate your unwanted items so others can shop used.
Read statistic.
Before going to buy a new item – think about how much you will use it. Can you borrow it from a friend – rent it at a store – or buy it used?
Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find what you are looking for a lot less money.
When you have unused clothing and household items be sure to donate them so others can shop used too.
HANDOUT: Don’t Trash Your Old Stuff

17. Greening Your Events
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day household waste increases more than 25%.
Send invites through or make your own
Use reusable tableware: dishes, silverware, napkins.
Buy snacks in bulk when possible.
Determine if you want to give gifts.
Read statistic.
Talk about these ways to “green” events year-round.
Ask the audience if they have other ideas for how to “green” an event or party.
HANDOUT: Greening Your Celebrations

18. Creative Ways to Reuse
If we all wrap 3 gifts each year in reused paper, we’d save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
Look around your home for materials that can be used as an alternative to wrapping paper:
Fabric
Newspaper
Stickers, ribbon
Silk flowers
Etc!!
Read statistic.
If you plan to give gifts for holidays, etc. consider using items from around your home to use as wrapping instead of buying more wrapping paper.
Review next few slides of creative gift wrapping.
HANDOUT: Greening Your Celebrations

19. Creative Ways to Reuse
HANDOUT: Greening Your Celebrations

20. Creative Ways to Reuse
HANDOUT: Greening Your Celebrations

21. Creative Ways to Reuse Jar = vase Old sweater or t-shirt = pillow
Basket or wooden box = plant container
Plastic food containers = storage
Other ideas?
Ask audience what other ways they have reused items.
Look at things in a new way and ask yourself how something could be used again! This means less going into landfills.
HANDOUT: Greening Your Celebrations

22. RECYCLE Basic recycling Increase recycling Paper Closing the Loop:
After looking at ways to REDUCE and REUSE, let’s talk about basic recycling and why you can recycle more.

23. Basic Recycling
About one third of what is thrown away can be recycled.
Twin City area recyclers accept paper, metal, glass, plastic.
Check with your county to learn more about recycling.
Preparation Tips:
Remove all caps, lids and pumps
Give a good rinse
Okay to leave on labels
Do not put recyclables in plastic bags (use bins or paper bags)
Read statistic.
We've come a long way! Twin City recyclers accept more types of recyclables than in the past.
They have also made it easier to prepare your recyclables for pick up.
Review prep tips.

24. Increase Recycling Metal/Aluminum/Steel Glass Plastic Paper
I already recycle cans, bottles and newspapers, what else can I recycle?
Metal/Aluminum/Steel
Glass
Plastic
Paper
All metro counties should accept metal, glass, plastic and paper. Each county may differ on if it needs to be sorted or not.
Check your county website to learn more about recycling in your county. (Last slide has list of county websites.)
Spend a minute looking at the Residential Curbside Recycling Guide handout at what types of METAL, GLASS and PLASTIC can be recycled.
(Next slide focuses on PAPER.)
HANDOUT: Can I Recycle It?

25. Paper About 21% of Minnesota’s garbage is recyclable paper.
Mail, office and school papers
Magazines and catalogs
Newspapers and inserts
Phone books
Shredded paper in closed paper bags
Cardboard boxes
Cereal, cracker, pasta, cake boxes
Boxes from toothpaste, medications, etc.
TIP FOR BOXES:
If it goes in the cupboard, it’s recyclable.
If it goes in the fridge, freezer, or microwave it’s not.
Read statistic.
Consider recycling more types of paper!
Refer to the Residential Curbside Recycling Guide handout and review the types of recyclable paper.
Highlight the special tip regarding BOXES.

26. Discussion What two actions will you take to reduce, reuse or recycle?
What surprised you most about what you have learned?
What two actions will you take to reduce, reuse or recycle?
Audience discussion:
Use some time to ask the audience these questions and have them share with the group.
If you have time – another discussion question you could ask:
What are things you are already doing to reduce, reuse, recycle?

27. Thank You!
This information was provided by HandsOn Twin Cities’ Community P.O.W.E.R. (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) grant to educate residents about waste reduction and recycling.
SOURCES: Hennepin County Environmental Services
Community P.O.W.E.R. grants funded by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board.
Thank you for attending!
Encourage the group to think about the information they learned today and do at least one thing (if not more!) to REDUCE – REUSE – RECYCLE
Promote as the go-to place for information about waste reduction and recycling.

28. Next Steps
An important part of this project is to determine if you changed reduce-reuse-recycle behaviors as a result of this information.
In a few weeks we will ask you to complete a short 8-question survey.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Please make sure to let the audience know that they will be asked to complete a short survey in about three weeks.
(The survey is available by paper or . )

29. Your go-to guide for waste & recycling in the Twin Cities
Resources
Your go-to guide for waste & recycling in the Twin Cities
Remove from mailing lists:
(credit cards)
(advertising mail)
Recycling plastic bags
Reduce Waste
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Recycling Association of Minnesota
Twin Cities Free Market
Do it Green! Minnesota
Anoka County
Carver County
Dakota County
Hennepin County
Ramsey County
Washington County
This info is included in the handouts for the audience.