Buying for a Better Baton Rouge

If we don't shop carefully, a good deal of what we bring home from the grocery store ends up in the trash.  Look for recycled products by using the steps below.

Shop Smart

From the Styrofoam tray and plastic wrap that often accompany a serving of grapes or other fresh produce, to the plastic and cardboard that bind together serving-sized cereal boxes, our purchase decisions directly impact our waste production.

Go with the sponge instead of disposable wipes, shave with a razor with reusable blades instead of a disposable, use cloth napkins instead of paper, buy rechargeable batteries, and store leftovers in containers rather than in foil or plastic.

Learn the Labels

Post-consumer materials are truly recycled because they have been used by another consumer.  Look for products with the maximum percentage of post-consumer materials. Also, look for products with the least wasteful packaging and choose recycled goods, which require fewer natural resources to produce. Recycling involves three elements, represented by the three arrows in the recycling symbol: Collection, Manufacturing and Reuse.

Recyclable:   Products that can be recycled, but may not have recycled content.

Recycled:   Made with recycled materials.

Buy These Recycled Products

Tissues, towels and napkins, coffee filters, greeting cards, writing paper, envelopes, computer paper, copy paper and most office products, plastic soft drink and detergent bottles, glass containers, steel containers, plastic trash bags, clothing and shoes, toys and playground equipment, garden tools, carpet and carpet pads, plastic lumber for planters, benches and decks.  Look for the triple arrow symbol,  shown above.

Recyclable versus Recycled

The term "Recycled" refers to products made from recycled material.  "Recycled Product" refers to a product produced in whole or in part from secondary material recovered from converting waste or post-consumer waste.  "Recyclable" refers to products that can be recycled, but may not have recycled content.

Stop the Junk Mail

Stop the flow of junk mail to your mail box by requesting that your name be removed from the Direct Marketing Association's mailing list.

Write to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Assoc.
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735
or call: (212) 768-7277

Hoses that go the Mile

Each year Aquapore Moisture Systems turns 850,000 used tires into new Moisture Master Hoses.  The hoses are made of 65% recycled tires and reduce water usage by up to 70%, which is as good for the earth as it is for your garden.  Home Depot carries them.   Call 1-800-426-8419 for more information.

Call for a Recycled Plastics Guide

For a free consumer's guide to recycled plastics, call the American Plastics Council at 1-800-2-HELP-90.

The Art of Recycling

Several local shops carry recycled leather journals, bottle cap belts, computer chip earrings, license plate purses, and other recycled gifts.

Re-Use Tips!

1. Bring your own bags to the store.
2. Sell or donate items you don't need.
3. Buy refillable containers.
4. Use durable, reusable picnic items instead of throwaway.
5. Maintain and repair durable products.
6. Reuse jars, containers and boxes.
7. Try to borrow an item instead of buying it.