Being A Responsible Consumer

E-Waste and How Consumer Choices Help to Reduce It:

To minimize e-waste, keep devices longer, replace batteries, donate for restoration or reuse, and properly recycle electronics, as well as support changes to state and federal laws to reduce environmental impacts.

Environmental Assessment of House Cladding Products: 

Over a building life of 60 years, vinyl, solid wood, and engineered wood siding have the LOWEST overall environmental impacts and polypropylene siding and cement-based options have the highest impacts.

Replacing That Old Refrigerator: A Better Decision than You Think: 

Because of required energy-efficiency improvements, when a refrigerator reaches 10-11 years in use, it is best to recycle and replace it with a new unit that meets the current standards. 

Selection of Paper for Minimum Environmental Impact: 

Printing and writing paper with 10-30% recycled content provides the BEST environmental performance. 

Consumer Food Waste: 

Food waste at the consumer level constitutes about 20% of total estimated food loss, and the loss of food once it reaches the consumer has a much higher environmental impact due to the impacts of producing, harvesting, transporting, processing, and distributing food. 

Environmental Impacts of Clothing:

Consumers can help to reverse recent trends toward ‘fast fashion'; by limiting purchases, avoiding trendy short-life fashion, purchasing recycled-content items, and seeking out second-hand outlets.