Written by Sara Roderick, Image via Orphanjones

The Skinny >>

Listen up Cadet. It’s time for some basic training: reduce your level of consumption; reuse what you have; and recycle what you can’t put to good use.

Think about this: in 2008, Americans created about 250 million tons of trash. Californians alone “generate about 39.9 million tons of waste each year that is not being recycled.”

By reducing, reusing and recycling, however, you cut those numbers down, decreasing the amount of waste sent to the landfill, and thus air and water pollution.

Work It >>

• Record your consumption. One good way to do this is by keeping a log or journal of everything you purchase, use, eat, throw out and so forth. In doing so, you create conscious awareness of how much you actually consume (and waste) throughout the day.

• Reuse. While we praise those of you who recycle your empty glass jars, etc., we encourage you to go one step further and find another use for them. For example: use that empty glass pasta sauce jar as a container for the nuts you plan to purchase from the bulk bin at your local market.

• Reduce. Ditch the plastic bag and water bottle. Opt for a reusable canteen and tote instead. Grabbing a cup of coffee and lunch? Make sure to bring a reusable hot drink container with you as well as your “To-Go Ware” to replace the Styrofoam or plastic take out containers restaurants usually carry.

• Recycle…everything.

• Don’t trash your electronic waste (a.k.a. e-waste). Whether it’s a damaged laptop, a broken cell phone, or a worn out television from The Wonder Years era – it can be recycled, and/or donated. Check with organizations, such as Goodwill, to find out if they have use for your old or slightly damaged electronic products; or drop off the items at a S.A.F.E. Center (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) in L.A. so they can be properly recycled. You can even get cash for your old e-items to be repurposed at places like Flipswap online. Or donate unwanted cell phones to Collective Good.

• Miscellaneous items such as worn-out Nike sneakers and empty Chivas Skin Care vegan lip balm containers can be recycled too!

• Do some legwork. Learn more about what can be recycled and what the numbers on all of your plastic and glass items stand for. To find a recycling center near you and to find out which items it accepts, visit the incredibly useful Earth 911. Also be sure to download its recycling app for your iPhone.

For a complete review, check out YDT’s Recycling Guide.

Earn Your Stripes >>

Organize a recycling campaign! Don’t worry, you don’t have to run around passing out fliers and pins – in fact, we discourage doing so, as it will cause a whole bunch of waste that, recyclable or not, doesn’t need to be created. Why not put a box next to the printer at your office and inform your co-workers you plan to collect empty printer cartridges, used computer paper and/or dead batteries to recycle? Spread the word in your weekly cooking class that you’re collecting old or broken juicers, blenders, coffee machines and other appliances to be donated or reused. You can even do any of the above (and more!) in your neighborhood, school or apartment building!

Take “Recycling” to a whole new level and begin “Upcycling.” Upcycling is the process of taking old “unwanted or discarded materials” and using them to create something new. Use old t-shirts and jeans to create an oh-so chic spring wardrobe; or use old seat belts to create a purse. Also, be sure to check out Terracycling a company dedicated to upcycling everything from juice pouches to cookie wrapper bags.

Get Your Green Starter Kit >>

Don’t have all the tools to get you into eco-action? Our going green starter kit can kick-start your routine with basic eco-goodies …and with a special boot camp discount too.

Related Content >>

• L.A. Stormwater 101

• Recycle Your Clothes Los Angeles

• As If You Didn’t Need Another Reason To Ditch the Plastic

• Happy Earth Day (2008)

• Recycle Anything on Real Simple

• YDT’s Recycling Guide

• Playground and Sneakers: A Natural Fit

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