Pinellas County Utilities Green Tips-Waste

GREEN TIPS TO CUT WASTE

cut waste header

Here are some great tips to cut waste (and save money)!
Also see:
Tip-of-the-Week | Saving Energy Tips
Saving Water Tips | Green Tips Flyer

man using a sod cutting machine

Always a borrower or a lender be.
Before buying an expensive new tool, consider borrowing it, particularly if it’s an item you won’t use often or you have limited storage space. For example, you could borrow a neighbor’s sod cutter, and pay him back later with the loan of your power washer. Tool rental is another good option for major home or garden projects.

teenage boy downloading music on a laptop

Download the latest album
Buy music online rather than buying a CD to reduce manufacturing and shipping waste. There are more than 13 million legal tracks available online, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. If you have a library card from the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, you may download three free songs per week from Freegal Music.

recycled greeting card

Give eco-friendly cards.
Look for greeting cards printed on recycled paper. Recycled cards are widely available online and in stores. Another option is to create your own by purchasing blank cards and pasting pictures from your old cards on them. Alternatively, you can glue the card pictures onto the side of a plain gift bag as decoration, or cut the pictures into gift tags.
St. Jude's Ranch Recycled Card Program

electronic invitation image

Party without paper.
Next time you throw a party, save time, money and trees with paperless invitations. For small parties, use phone or email to invite guests. For large parties or special occasions, try free online “evites” (electronic invitations) which are a convenient way to invite a list of guests, give directions, provide a gift registry link and view the guest list.

Barter with TV

Discover bartering.
Bartering means exchanging goods or services without exchanging money. For example, a person could swap a TV for their neighbor’s bookcase, or a painter could exchange painting services with a friend who designs websites. Remember that the fair market value of bartering income needs to be reported to the IRS.
IRS Bartering Tax Center

parsley in a pot

Plant a mini garden.
You don’t need to live on a farm to grow your own food. Even apartment dwellers can grow fruits or vegetables in a small container such as a pot, barrel, window box or hanging basket. A great place to start is by growing herbs such as parsley or chives. The optimal time for local gardening is spring or fall.
Growing fruit in containers
Growing vegetables in containers

Halloween ghost costume

Be green this Halloween.
Make this Halloween more fun and less trashy; don’t buy a new costume. Create your own costume by using items found around the house or by shopping at local thrift stores. Other green options include trading costumes with a friend or renting one.

Green Halloween tips

Be a Green Business Partner.
The Green Business Partnership program is open to all businesses in Pinellas County. Your business can save money by implementing the program’s measures to cut waste, save water and reduce energy use. Free site assessments and product rebates are available.

Family picnic

Take empties home.
What happens if you are out at a family picnic, the movies or a ballgame, and there is no recycling container available? Instead of tossing your empty cans or bottles in the trash, carry them home to recycle. This is a great way to demonstrate to your children that recycling is important, no matter where you are.

students at school

Stretch your back-to-school dollars.
Before shopping for back-to-school items, take inventory of items already on hand. Reuse items such as last year’s book bag or lunch box. Give items a new look with fabric paint, iron-on patches or permanent markers. If you need new supplies, wait for the first day to get a detailed supply list from your child’s teacher.

image of a hand holding plastic bags

Banish bag waste.
It’s easy to accumulate a pile of plastic bags, even if you carry reusable bags when shopping. Reuse empty plastic bags if possible, e.g., trash can liners or pet pickup. You can recycle plastic grocery bags at local grocery stores, as well as plastic newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags and plastic wrapping from non-food items such as paper towels.
Plastic bag recycling tips

battery on charging unit

Keep your batteries energized.
A few tips to prolong the life of rechargeable batteries: Follow the product guidelines for charging a new electronic item prior to its first use to maximize the battery’s capacity, don’t leave a battery on the charger when not charging, and remove batteries from a device that will not be used for several months.

Haz-to-Go Trailer

Schedule a Haz-to-Go event.
The Haz-to-Go trailer is available to community groups for the collection of hazardous electronics and chemicals. Groups such as homeowners or condo associations can book the trailer for a free “Clean-up Day” event in their community. The trailer is available on weekdays for a three-hour period.

woman reading a product label

Look for eco-labels.
When shopping, scan product labels for third-party certifications such as Green Seal, Design for the Environment or EcoLogo. Also look for environmentally friendly terms such as non-toxic, biodegradable or recycled content. In addition, you can research a product’s manufacturer to learn about their environmental practices.

Reuse glass jar

Reuse glass jars.
Empty glass jars—such as jam, mustard or baby food jars—work well for storing small items such as buttons, beads, screws, marbles, stickers, or rubber bands. Jars may also be reused for mixing sauces or salad dressing. Simply add the ingredients, tighten the lid, and shake. You will save dirtying a bowl, and the jar is a perfect storage container.

reusing bottle top to seal a plastic bag

Reuse bottle caps to seal plastic bags.
Cut off the top of an empty plastic bottle about an inch below the cap. Keep the bottle neck and cap; recycle the rest of the bottle. Remove the cap, and insert the top of a plastic bag through the bottle neck. Fold the top of the bag down over the neck, and screw the cap on. The cap seals the bag so it is airtight.

recycle grass when mowing

Grass-cycle when you mow.
Leave the grass clippings on the lawn instead of bagging. Grass-cycling saves time, cuts waste and encourages a healthier lawn by returning nutrients to the soil. To avoid clumping, mow the lawn when it’s dry. Cut no more than 1/3 of the grass height to keep clippings small. The clippings will quickly decompose and disappear from view.

free sign

Share with co-workers.
Donating unwanted items to charity is great, but so is donating to your friends at work. Designate an area in the office, such as a table in the break room or an empty bookcase in a copy room, for employees to place items they no longer need. Unwanted items such as books, DVDs, magazines, garden produce, etc., may be placed there for the taking.

Toilet paper rolls

Recycle: Even in the bathroom.
Make recycling convenient by setting up a small recycling bin in the bathroom for items such as empty toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes, cosmetic boxes or shampoo bottles. Before recycling, get more use from your products by storing almost-empty bottles (such as shampoo or lotion) upside down.

hand holding wire hangers

Take them to the cleaners.
If you can’t reuse wire hangers in your own closet, donate them to your favorite dry cleaner. Most dry cleaning establishments are grateful to get wire hangers which can be quickly cleaned and reused for future customers. Also, recycle plastic dry cleaner bags at your local grocery store.

pouring oil into a car engine

Postpone oil changes.
Regular maintenance is important, but most cars can go more than 3,000 miles before changing the oil due to new engine technology and oil chemistry. Many automakers are recommending oil changes at 5,000 miles or more based on driving conditions. Your best bet is to follow your owner’s manual specifications. Remember to recycle used oil.

gas pump display screen

Say “no” to receipts. Save some trees—and remove clutter from your life—by refusing automated receipts when given a choice. Instead of piling up slips of paper in your wallet from visits to the ATM or gas station, you can view your transactions online or on monthly printed statements.

file folder with new label

Salvage file folders. When cleaning out old files, set aside the file folders for reuse instead of throwing them away. You can easily reuse folders by sticking on a new file folder label. Before applying the label, apply a piece of clear tape on the tab so the label will peel off easily for future reuse. Another reuse option is turning a used folder inside out.

printer

Think twice before printing. Ask yourself, “Do I really need a hard copy?” before hitting the print button. Save digital copies of e-mails or documents instead of automatically printing them out. Proofread documents on the screen for typos to avoid reprinting. If you must print something, view the “print preview” first to ensure you print only the pages you need.

DVDs

Share movies. Before you buy a new movie, consider the green alternatives. You can swap DVDs with friends or family. There are online trading venues such as Swap.com or SwapaDVD. Many options for movie rental are readily available, or you can borrow movies for free from the local library.

gift bow

Start a bag and bow collection. Next time you receive a gift, save the wrappings. Find a large box to store used gift bags, bows, ribbons and boxes. For big events such as birthdays, keep the storage box handy to collect undamaged items that can be reused. Save money and stress by giving yourself a quickly accessible supply of wrapping materials.

frozen strawberry

Preserve your harvest. Freezing fruits and vegetables is a great way to preserve seasonal goodness. You can freeze fresh produce from your own garden, the grocery store or a local farmer’s market. Most fruits and vegetables maintain high quality in the freezer for eight months to a year. For more information, visit Pinellas County Extension.

A to Z Guide logo

Step away from the trash can.
Before throwing an item away, check our handy online guide for a green alternative. The A to Z Guide for Recycling & Disposal in Pinellas County offers environmentally-friendly options for recycling or safely disposing of over 250 items. The easy-to-use guide gets over 8,000 web visits per month on average.

packing peanuts

Reuse packing peanuts.
Wondering what to do with leftover Styrofoam packing peanuts? Store them in a box or bag for the next time you need to ship something. Sprinkle the peanuts in the bottom of pots to provide drainage for your houseplants. Drop them off at a local packing store for reuse.

battery tester

Check your battery juice.
Buy a battery tester at a battery or electronics store, and find out easily which batteries are dead and which are still usable. The tester will pay for itself by reducing waste. Testers are available for AA, AAA, C, D, camera, and watch batteries. Be sure to test your storm kit batteries in preparation for hurricane season.

aerosol can nozzle

Keep on spraying.
To clear a clogged aerosol can, remove the tip, run it under hot water for a minute, and dry it off. You can also soak the tip in water (or mineral spirits for oil paint). If the tip fits on a can of WD-40, put it on and give it a squirt to clear the blockage. Replace the tip on the clogged can, turn it upside down, and spray for a few seconds. Be cautious; never puncture an aerosol can or immerse it in water.

potted plant

Send a potted plant.
Sending flowers is a great way to celebrate special occasions or show someone that you care. Before ordering an arrangement of cut flowers, consider a potted plant that may be used for years. Most florists offer a variety of long-lasting plants for indoor or outdoor use.

cabinets

Reuse cabinets.
Upgrading your cabinets or countertops? Instead of trashing the units, consider reuse. If you carefully disassemble the unit, you can utilize it elsewhere, such as reusing a kitchen cabinet to add storage space in the garage or reusing a bathroom counter to create a folding area in the laundry room. Another option for cabinets is refacing (keep the frames and replace only the doors).

mom and daughter viewing an e-card

Send e-cards.
U.S. consumers purchase approximately seven billion greeting cards each year. Consider sending an e-card (electronic card). It is a fast, simple way to keep in touch with friends and family. Check online for free or minimal cost e-cards for a variety of occasions.

clothing swap

Host a swap party.
Update your wardrobe or cupboard for free by gathering friends for a swap party. Each person brings clean, gently used items such as clothing, CDs, or books. Select a method for swapping such as everyone goes home with the same number of items that they donated, or take turns with each person selecting three items per turn.
More info (Planet Ark)

compost bin

Get the most from compost.
Composting is a great way to recycle, and to enrich your soil. Compost is decomposed organic material that adds nutrients and helps the soil retain water. Create compost from yard waste (such as grass clippings or leaves) and kitchen scraps (such as coffee grounds or banana peels).
Sign up for a Pinellas County Extension Workshop
Visit Florida's Online Composting Center

inkjet cartridge in printer

Prolong printer ink.
Don’t change a cartridge just because you have a low ink warning. Wait to replace the cartridge until the print quality is affected. A recent PC World test found that up to 40% of the ink still remained in cartridges that registered a low ink warning.
video clip

leftover food on plate

Bring a doggy bag.
Many restaurants serve large portions, so come prepared with a reusable container to bring your leftovers home. If you have holiday party leftovers, send them home with party guests, or contact Tampa Bay Harvest at (727) 538-7777 to arrange donation to a local charity.
video clip

fingers on keyboard

Shop online.
Save gas and time by shopping online instead of driving to a store. Shopping online allows you to compare products and prices without driving all over town. Many online retailers offer free shipping.
video clip
www.freeshipping.org

Swap Shop

Go shopping at the Swap Shop.
Pick up free household products at the Swap Shop at Solid Waste Operations in St. Petersburg. You’ll find paint, gardening products, cleaners, and more. One resident painted her entire house with Swap Shop paint! Visit our new facility Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., or Sat. 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. to pick up or drop off items.
video clip

laundry basked

Care for your clothes.
Make your clothes last longer by washing similar colors together to prevent bleeding. Use cold water when possible. Turn dark clothes inside out to prevent fading. Turn knits inside out to reduce pilling. Don’t assume that an item must be washed every time it’s worn. Repair holes when they first appear.
video clip

cleaning up with a sponge

Ditch the paper towels.
For clean-up jobs, reach for a reusable cloth. Some microfiber cloths clean with water, so chemical cleaners aren’t needed. Whatever your preference — microfiber cloth, sponge, or cotton dish rag — a reusable cloth is preferable to a disposable paper towel that is used once and thrown away.
video clip

grass blades

Fertilize smart.
For best results, fertilize your Florida lawn in March and September (not during the summer months). Select a fertilizer with low amounts of phosphorus and larger amounts of slow-release nitrogen. Irrigate newly-fertilized grass with about one-quarter inch of water to remove fertilizer from the grass blades, but keep it within the root zone.

Figuring Out Fertilizer (Univ. of Florida)

Turfgrass Science (Univ. of Florida)