- Purchase a reusable lunch box or bag instead of using disposable lunch sacks. It not only saves money over the long run but also significantly reduces waste going to landfills.
- Buy reusable containers for sandwiches and snacks, rather than individual bags. Using 2-3 bags per lunch adds up to a lot of unnecessary waste and expense!
- Buy a sturdy, comfortable backpack that your child can use year after year.
- Purchase recycled paper – then try to use both sides to reduce waste even further. Americans could save 85 million tons of paper annually by simply reusing and recycling.
- Use brown paper bags from your groceries as book covers for your child’s textbooks. Your children can design their own covers from these bags, most of which are made of recycled materials.
- When purchasing notebook binders, consider those with clear slipcover fronts that can be reused. Have your kids create
their own cover and simply replace it from project to project.
- Reuse last year’s plastic art or pencil box by decorating it with fabric paint and creating an all-new look and design.
No need to buy another one!
- Try to buy water-based paints and soy-based crayons, which are better for the environment than oil-based products.
- Purchase a reusable drink container for your drinks rather than continually buying individual drink boxes.
- Buy in bulk and avoid individually prepackaged items. It is significantly less expensive and can reduce what’s thrown
away. About 1/3 of all garbage in landfills is packaging.
 The above products can be purchased at local major retailers. Please check your local retail outlet to see if they carry recycled-content products. If not, ask your store manager about stocking them.
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