Practicing green habits goes beyond sorting through your trash. There are many things we can do in and around our homes to play a small (and smart!) part in waste reduction. Follow these three easy tips to keep your landfill contribution to a minimum.

Reuse & recycle

Purging through old things that have been stashed away for seasons doesn’t need to be daunting. Try tackling one area of your house at a time and work through the rest in stages. Start in the garage where clutter tends to pile up. Instead of holding on to old items that you no longer use, recycle them. Drop off your used tires using our Find A Tire Collector tool. Pro tip: Drop-off up to four tires for free at a registered collector. Once recycled, your old tires are transformed into sustainable products such as rubber landscape tiles, playground surfacing, roofing shakes and athletic flooring.

Repair & refurbish

Channel your inner creativity by completing fixer-uppers around the home. With DIY tips and tricks at your fingertips, projects can be done on a budget. Start small by working through jobs like repairing light fixtures or refurbishing furniture. No home workshop? No problem! Check out your local community maker spaces or repair cafés that offer access to equipment to help you with your project. Pro tip: Not only will this save money, it will also lessen your impact by diverting waste from the landfill.

Extend the life of materials

Thrifters unite! Shopping at second-hand shops or consignment stores offer one-of-a-kind pieces that are trendy and discounted. You can also extend the life of your own items by repurposing different garments and materials. Try repurposing old clothing into vintage styles or using the rubber from old tires for shoe soles or belts. Pro tip: If you’ve run out of uses for your old items, visit your local community centre donation drop box.