Happy Earth Day from Odd Dog! To celebrate, we went green with a team recycling training session. We learned how to separate our most common and trickiest disposables while having fun and competing for prizes.
Recycling is an important aspect of environmental stewardship, and we recognize that as a business, we are responsible for reducing our environmental impact. Below are some of the resources we covered in our training, and tips you can incorporate into your business or day-to-day life!
5 Tips from the Odd Dog team to stay environmentally friendly
1. Swap traditional AA and AAA batteries for rechargeable versions to reduce waste
While rechargeable batteries often have a higher up-front cost than disposable batteries, their lifetime is significantly longer making them the more cost-effective choice in the long run. Rechargeable batteries can be used hundreds of times, and often are even more powerful than disposable batteries!
2. When faced with compostable and recyclable items, recycling should be your first choice
At Odd Dog, we love composting, but when faced with the option to recycle or compost, choose to recycle. Both composting and recycling are important pieces to reducing waste, but recycling is typically considered better for conserving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pro-tip: Clean pizza boxes can be recycled, and greasy sections can be composted. Don’t be afraid to deconstruct food-soiled packaging and recycle the clean parts!
3. Seattle folks: Unsure of how to dispose of an item? Use Seattle Public Utilities’ nifty tool “Where Does It Go?”
We understand that it can be tricky to know where everything should go, so we urge you to check before opting to throw something away. Seattle Public Utilities’ tool “Where Does It Go?” can help you determine whether something should be composted, recycled, or trashed.
Non-Seattle folks, there are still tools for you! Check out your local city.gov website and search for recycling guidance as a starting point for learning your city’s guidelines.
4. Is your mailbox full? Instead of tossing your junk mail, use online tools to help you opt-out
Sometimes it feels easier to just toss junk mail instead of sitting on hold with customer service trying to get off a mailing list. Unfortunately, junk mail produces a significant amount of waste, much of which ends up in landfills, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems. Luckily, there are some great online resources to help you unsubscribe easily! Seattle Public Utilities has “Stop Junk Mail”, a resource that directs you to sites by junk mail category and provides a quick and easy way to opt out.
Not a Seattle resident? Explore other resources from USPS and the Federal Trade Commission on opting out of various junk mail.
5. What about hard-to-recycle items? Sign up for specialty recycling services
We recently introduced Ridwell at the Odd Dog office which allows our team to recycle items not available for normal curbside pickup. Ridwell offers pickup for an assortment of more challenging items that typically are not disposed of properly or are more difficult to recycle. These include batteries, prescription pill bottles, lightbulbs, and plastic film, but can vary depending on your zip code.
Go forth and reduce waste!
Celebrating Earth Day and choosing to recycle are important steps we can take to protect our planet and reduce our impact on the environment. Earth Day serves as an important reminder of the impact we have on the world around us and encourages individuals and communities to take action to address environmental issues. By implementing these environmentally friendly tips in our daily lives, we can all play a role in protecting our planet and creating a more sustainable future.
Want to chat about recycling, Earth Day, or Marketing for small businesses? We’re here to talk!