Sustainability at Home
Minimizing Waste
You have a critical role in shaping what enters the waste stream. Sustainability at home is easier than you think, and every action counts.
Reduce waste by buying less, or, when you need to make a purchase, buying used items. Don’t buy something new unless you absolutely need it.
Get creative and find new ways to use items you buy. Turn an empty pasta jar into pantry storage or an empty tin can into an herb planter.
Ensure recyclables are clean, dry, and sorted correctly. Lancaster County residents can Recycle Right by remembering “The Big 4.”
Sell or Donate
Selling or donating items to sustainable organizations supports reuse, reduces landfill waste, and helps communities access goods while promoting environmental responsibility.
- Art of Recycle
- Community Aid
- Goodwill Keystone Area
- Lancaster/Lebanon Habitat for Humanity ReStore
- Lancaster Creative Reuse
- Off the Streets Lancaster
- Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
- Pennsylvania Furniture Mission
- ReSupply
- ReUzit on State
- Re-Uzit Shop of New Holland
- The Salvation Army of Lancaster
*Check organization websites for donation details and guidelines.
Prevent FiresHandle, store, and dispose of batteries properly to protect people, property, and the environment from harm.
CompostComposting transforms food and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil, reducing landfill waste, conserving resources, and supporting healthier ecosystems.
Places to Compost
Consider Green AlternativesChoosing sustainable products reduces environmental impact, conserves resources, lowers waste, and fosters healthier decisions.
Tips & Ideas
Tips for Reusing
- Use a grocery bag to line your trash can
- Soak up spills with stained, discolored or holey clothing (rags) instead of paper towels (rewash)
- Find a brand-new purpose for aging items like using a chipped plate as a flowerpot holder or an old pair of ice skates as a winter decoration for your front door
- Check out these articles for inspiration:
- Not that creative? Try shopping at one of the many vintage stores in Lancaster County that creatively repurpose old items into something new. And remember, buying and wearing vintage is always in style!
Tips for Reducing
- Ask yourself whether you truly need that extra pair of shoes, flat-screen TV, trinket, gadget, decoration, toy, or doodad.
- Before purchasing perishable food, make sure a duplicate isn’t hiding at the back of the refrigerator. Food waste makes up 24% of our MSW.
- Check out this article for Eight Ways To Reduce Waste | The Nature Conservancy in PA/DE