How low can you go?

Sustainable living › Waste prevention › waste reduction advice

Recycling hotline operator Betty Shelley and her husband Jon only create one can of garbage a year. How do they do it? Follow Betty's suggestions and find out how low your garbage can go!

Betty and Jon with 5 and a half months of garbage Betty and Jon with five and a half months of garbage

One can of garbage a year. How did Betty and Jon get there?

Betty and Jon took the Master Recycler training course in 1992. They learned about "precycling"– considering purchasing behavior that avoids waste in the first place. This helped the Shelleys save money and drastically reduce the waste they generate. Here are some simple things they have done over the years that you can do, too!
Visit the Master Recycler Program site

It all starts with Betty's philosophy, "everything comes from the earth. In order to sustain our world, we shouldn't build up waste faster than the ecosystem can break it down."

When you make a purchasing decision, ask yourself, "what am I going to do with this when I'm done with it or it is worn out?" Buy good quality durable items, and keep repairing them. Don't buy cheap, flimsy throw-away items (because there is no "away"). If I don't really need it, why buy it, why not borrow or rent instead if I only want to use it once?

Buy in bulk.

Buy products on one large container rather than several small ones. Reuse bags and containers instead of getting new ones, using them once and recycling them and getting new ones at the next visit to the store. It isn't just food that comes in bulk, you can also buy things like shampoo and dish soap in bulk at several stores.

What about things you can't buy in bulk?

Choose packaging that's recyclable, either at the curb or at a drop-off location.

Share durable goods such as tools, party ware, sporting gear, etc.

Why buy your own tent or chainsaw if you can borrow from a friend or even rent? It saves money and waste.

Don't use disposables.

Use permanent dishes, cloth napkins, rags for cleaning. If you're having a party, borrow from friends.

Other tips to avoid making waste

Set aside unusual items that might have value to an organization like SCRAP or The Rebuilding Center. Make trips once or twice a year. A lot can be recycled here in our region, but even more can be reused.
Share things that you don't need anymore with friends and co-workers.
Go to the library.
Shop locally and seasonally.
Use green recipes for cleaning products – save money making your own and use the same containers over and over again.
Cook from scratch rather than buy packaged foods, it's also cheaper!

Compost food waste.

Compost kitchen scraps – fruit and vegetable leftovers, egg shells, tea bags, can all be composted. So can dryer lint, hair and nail trimmings. But please no meat, dairy, grain or oily products as they will smell and attract unwanted wildlife.

What about food waste that can't be composted or eaten – chicken bones, grease, etc.?

Put bones, trimmings and meat wrappers in a plastic bag in the freezer until garbage pick up.

Have as few things as possible to take care of.

No house plants, no pets, no lawn!!! When they did have a cat they used pine cat litter (the waste went in the garbage) that they composted (but did not use in the vegetable garden).

What does go in their one can a year of trash?

Uncompostable food waste, packaging that can't be recycled.

Visit the Oregon Natural Step Network site

Need assistance?

Metro Recycling Information
503-234-3000
mri@oregonmetro.gov

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