1. Be Waste Wise

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. What can I compost?  Leaves  Grass clippings  Straw  Certain food waste  Paper

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.