Natural resource and energy conservation is achieved by managing materials more efficiently. Choose from the efforts and resources below to learn how to conserve resources at home and at work.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Learn ways to reduce household and industrial waste. Three primary strategies for effectively managing materials and waste are reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Reduce waste by making smart decisions when purchasing products, including the consideration of product packaging.
- Reuse containers and products.
- Recycle materials ranging from paper to food scraps, yard trimmings, and electronics.
- Purchase products manufactured with recycled content.
- Sustainable Materials Management (SMM): SMM is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire lifecycles. Learn what EPA is doing to advance SMM and how to become involved.
- Conservation Tools: Tools and programs that promote waste reduction and recycling. Read guidelines for businesses regarding purchasing recycled materials, controlling solid waste management costs, and streamlining and improving operations. Learn about evaluating effectiveness of recycling in the community.
- Common Wastes and Materials: Common materials from the municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams that have good opportunities for recycling and reuse.