Litter is more than just ugly; waste can have detrimental effects on the environment and our health. The good news is we produce more than we have to, so applying some good management practices can save energy and resources and maintain a healthy environment for our future. Find out what you can do today to waste less.

Reduce, reuse, recycle
You've been hearing that line for years, and it's still just as important as when you were in grade school. Chanting the three Rs reminds us to buy less waste in the first place. Did you know packaging material is one of the largest contributors to landfills? Reusing products means materials do not need to be reprocessed before they can be used again. You drop off your clothes at Salvation Army — little did you know you were saving the earth at the same time you were helping those in need! Once you've reduced and reused, then toss it in the recycling bin.

Recycling saves energy
The energy needed to create a new can from a recycled can is 95 percent less than the energy needed to create a new can from scratch. Recycling relieves pressure on natural resources. Almost 40 percent of American's waste is paper and could be recycled, meaning fewer trees would need to be cut down in the future. A good portion of our trash is yard and food waste, which could easily be composted and used to enrich soil in your lawn or garden. Recycling diverted 79 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2005.

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