A successful recycling pro-gram requires much more than the initial collection of recoverable materials.  The processing, remanufacturing, and purchasing of new prod-ucts made from recycled material represents the rest of the closed loop.  THAT'S RECY-CLING.

 As recycling is an important part of closing the loop, so is "PRECYCLING."  Precycling requires a conscious effort by consumers to be environmentally selective before they buy.  Consumers can help influence the recycling market, and help close the loop, by following a few simple rules:

Facts About Packaging

 - 13% of the price you pay for food comes from packaging.
 - Almost half of what we throw away is recyclable!
 - Packaging accounts for 33% of municipal waste, 83% of which is landfilled!

 - Don't double/triple wrap.
 - Reuse plastic bags for produce/bulk.
 - Don't buy bulky/odd shaped packaging.
 - Use own cloth/paper shopping bags.
 - Reusable packaging.
 - Buy bulk bins.

 - Buy greeting cards, gift wraps, stationery, etc.
 - Choose paper bags, cardboard boxes, aluminum and tin cans, and glass bottles when you shop.  They are all recyclable packaging naturals.
 - Avoid packaging with more than one material such as juice containers made of paper laminated with plastic or foil.  Mixed material packages such as these are not recyclable.

 - Look for the recycle symbol on packages.
 - Cereal boxes made with gray paperboard and almost half of aluminum cans are made from recycled packages.

 - Better quality; creates less waste than disposables.
 - Saves money in long run (cloth napkins, silverware, cloth diapers).
 - Avoid buying aerosol sprays that destroy the ozone layer.  Instead, buy pump style bottles.

 - REDUCE the amount of waste we produce
 - RE-USE as much as possible
 - RECYCLE the recyclables
 - REJECT over packaging and products hazardous to the environment
 - REACT by joining with other consumers to let manufacturers and government know your views

 - Buy only what you need
 - Buy products with the least amount of packaging
 - Buy products in recycled or recyclable packaging
 - Avoid disposable products which are not recyclable
 - Buy the larger size or in bulk when possible

 - Appliances      - Containers
 - Boxes             - Grocery bags
 - Clothing          - Wrapping paper

         Recycle.  Learn what is recyclable in your community:

 - Aluminum                       - Newsprint
 - Corrugated cardboard    - Office paper
 - Glass                              - Paperboard
 - Motor oil                        - Some plastics
                                          - Steel cans

 - Aerosol containers
 - Blister packs
 - Mixed material packages
 - Non-recyclable packaging
 - Over-packaged goods
 - Packaging that promises to disappear
 - Products harmful to the environment
 - Supposedly "biodegradable" plastics

 - Write to manufacturers to support environmentally benign packaging and products, and to discourage:
       ·over-packaging
       ·non-recyclable packaging
       ·environmentally harmful products
 - Call manufacturer's 800 lines (listed on many packages) to voice your opinion
 - Contact elected officials to request that government at all levels use more recycled products.
 - Ask merchants to provide bags made from recycled material or use your own bag.
 - Request that your local newspaper use more recycled newsprint.