Tips for Reducing Fall Home Maintenance and Halloween Holiday Waste
Compost is a rich, organic soil conditioner for your lawn and garden. Put raked leaves and other yard wastes in a compost bin and keep these materials out of landfills. Don't forget to add any organic materials cleaned out of your gutters, too! |
Cool, dry fall days are a great time to paint both the interior and exterior
of your home. Properly store any unused paint for future use, donate unused
paint to neighbors or charities, or turn in your used paint to a waste
collection facility for recycling.
When stocking up on cold-weather gear, buy recycled-content items such
as fleece clothing and blankets made from recycled soda bottles and snow
shovels made from recycled plastic. Buying recycled-content products "closes
the loop" and encourages companies to make more items with recycled
materials.
If you have a tile roof, check it thoroughly for cracks or missing tiles
and use roofing made from recycled rubber or plastic to make repairs.
Replace old insulation with insulation made from recycled paper, glass,
and other recovered materials.
Check your heat pump or furnace and change the filter or make repairs
if needed. Properly maintaining your furnace will conserve fuel by keeping
it running efficiently and preventing leaks.
Before rough winter weather sets in, remove screens from windows and
doors and put up storm windows. Strong winds, heavy rains, and extreme
cold can all damage your screens and ordinary windows and send them to
landfills before their time.
Check caulking around windows and do touch ups to conserve energy and
natural resources.
Clean and properly store tools, toys, and outdoor furniture to protect
them from damage, allowing you to keep them longer instead of sending
them to the landfill.
When performing routine maintenance on your car, properly dispose of
used motor oil, coolants, tires, and batteries. Many repair facilities
will accept these items and recycle them, or you can call your local solid
waste management department to find auto parts recycling facilities in
your area.
Why purchase a Halloween costume that you will probably only use once
and then throw away? Instead, use old clothes or buy used clothes from
a consignment shop to make your costume. Also remember to use reusable
cloth bags instead of disposable ones for trick-or-treating.
Make the most of your jack o' lantern. Use the removed meat to make pumpkin
pie or muffins and roast the seeds as a fun holiday snack. When the holiday
is over, cut up your carved pumpkin before it spoils and toss it in the
compost bin.