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As a result of the recession, conspicuous consumption is out and frugality and conservation are in. Remember that waste reduction, reuse and recycling, like water and energy conservation, are great habits whether times are bad or good.Here are some habits that you and your family can carry into the future: Carry a list when you shop. Evaluate what you have and make a list of what you need. This will help you “use up” what is in your house. This reduces waste, especially of food, and saves you money. Carry your own shopping bags, refillable water bottles and reusable coffee mugs. Eliminating unneeded packaging waste helps keep store costs lower and reduces litter and waste. Carry out your bank receipts, food orders and more. Rather than heading to the drive-through and idling your vehicle, wasting fuel and creating air pollution, stop, park and walk. You’ll get a bit of exercise, see people, save energy and probably won’t spend any more time. Carry over last year’s supplies. Clean out last year’s backpack for school. Organize your office and school supplies using what you have before buying additional items. Carry forward items you no longer need, donating or selling usable goods to someone who can use them. Maybe you have a set of towels that doesn’t match your new bathroom paint. Do you know a student heading off to college or a young adult moving into his or her own place? Offer them those usable linens. Carry away recyclable and recycled-content products from the store. While you are shopping, select items in containers that can be recycled in our local programs (called “precycling” because you are planning ahead to recycle). Also, look for recycled content products. Recycling markets have been hard hit by our economic downturn, so be sure you are closing the loop and buying items made from recyclables whenever possible. Carry your recyclables home. If you are out and don’t see a recycling bin, take your containers and paper products home for recycling. Carry on. The key to good habits is keeping them up. Learn more about reducing, reusing and recycling at buncombecounty.org/green. (Image provided by Buncombe County)
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