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Celebrating? Use these waste reduction tips for your next get together:
- Reduce food waste. Inventory what you already have, take a list when you shop, and resist "impulse buys". Plan your meals. If it's a potluck, suggest what guests can bring, and have containers available to portion out and share the leftovers.
- Set up an "eco depot". Place your green bin beside a blue box and garbage can for an easy-to-use sorting station for you and your guests.
- Use reusable dishware and napkins. Or recycle paper ones in your green bin.
- Wrap presents in reused cereal or cracker boxes, or in scarves, towels, or cookie tins. Make the wrapping part of the present!
- Make gift tags out of old greeting cards.
- Save decorations, gift bags, bows and ribbons, and tissue paper for reuse.
- If your celebration produces more organics than your green bin holds, put the organics in an acceptable liner bag, and place on top of your green bin for collection. (If you have organics on a regular basis though, pick up an extra green bin.)
Tips for specific holidays:
| New Year |
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With the new year, we often feel it is a time to refresh our thinking about our habits. When it comes to waste management, this means reducing, reusing and recycling more. Here are some resolutions to consider:
- Strive for zero waste. It's an ambitious goal, but many people have documented their experiences and tips online.
- Use refillable and reusable containers, including when you shop or dine out. Refuse straws and one-time use packaging.
- Rent or borrow or buy used before buying new. Become a member of the local library. Buy used clothing and furniture. Go to auctions, estate and garage sales. Check out local reuse stores.
- Shop smart. Have a list, buy items that are durable, repairable and have minimal packaging that is 100 per cent recyclable.
- Prevent food waste, and green bin any food scraps.
- Make your own cleaning and personal care products. There are recipes available online.
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| Hallowe'en |
Recycle your pumpkin! Remove candles and any decorations, and put it:
- on top of or beside your green bin,
- beside yard waste containers/bags, or
- in your backyard composter (chop it up first).
If you have unwanted candy, unwrap and put wrappers in the garbage, and the candy in the green bin.
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| Christmas |
- Put greenery and houseplants in your green bin. Remove any wire and decorations.
- Set only natural Christmas trees out for collection. Check the Holiday section of our Collection Schedules page for details.
- Consider hosting a post-Christmas pot-luck to use up the leftover turkey and trimmings.
- Introduce new traditions. Talk with your family about starting new traditions that are earth-friendly. Instead of everyone buying a present for everyone else, buy one present for the whole family, or draw names, or play a "gift-giving game" (there are many variations online) or donate to charities.
- Give an experience such as the movies, theatre, festivals or museums. As a family or with friends, consider volunteering, caroling, painting, rock climbing or some other activity.
- Make your gift. Share your skills and give home baking, knitted hat and scarf set, scrapbook special photos, create a poem, carve or weld a masterpiece. Create coupons for shoveling snow or other chores, or for other things such as an extra story at bedtime for your children).
- Make your wrapping part of the gift (such as a tea towel). Reuse wrpping paper, ribbon, bows.
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Interested in reducing packaging? BYOC! Below are local businesses that will allow you to use your own containers when buying food, including take-out. This reduces waste, such as polystyrene trays, plastic wrap, and plastic and other types of containers.
How does it work?
- Bring any sealable, clean, and undamaged container from home to one of the businesses below. (Note: Businesses reserve the right to refuse any container that is not up to standard.)
- Tell the salesperson that you want to use your own container.
- Give the salesperson your container to zero out the scale and weigh only the material inside.
- Pay and take your container home to be reused.
- 126 Chinese Food, 2922 King Street East, Kitchener
- A Dish Called Wanda, 421 Greenbrook Drive, Kitchener
- All Things Tea, 681 Belmont Avenue West, Kitchener
- Ambrosia Pastery Co., 150 Roger Street, Waterloo
- Angie's Waterloo, 47 Erb Street West, Waterloo
- Aroma Cafe, 33 Erb Street West, Waterloo
- Ayres Bulk Food and Baking Supplies, 354 King Street North, Waterloo
- Bangkok Cuisine, 1500 Weber Street East, Kitchener
- Bao Sandwich Bar, 62 Balsam Street, B106, Waterloo
- Barley Works, 59 King Street North, Waterloo
- Bauer Butcher, 150 Caroline Street South, Waterloo
- Bauer Kitchen, 187 King Street South, Unit 102, Waterloo
- Brady's Meat and Deli, 465 Phillip Street, Waterloo
- Brick and Mortar General Store, 20 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge
- Bulk Barn
- 425 Hespeler Road, Cambridge
- 5 McLaren Avenue, Cambridge
- 1400 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener
- 1400 Weber Street East, Kitchener
- 66 Bridgeport Road East, Waterloo
- 295 The Boardwalk, Waterloo
- Bullseye Bar and Grill, 446 Highland Road West, Kitchener
- The Busy Locavore, 4293 King Street East, Kitchener
- Cafe 1842, 59 King Street North, Waterloo
- Cafe Du Monde Creperie, 878 Weber Street North, Waterloo
- Cafe Pyrus, 16 Charles Street West, Kitchener
- Caudle's Catch, 300 King Street East, Kitchener
- Charles Quality Meats, 1448 Wilby Road, St. Agatha
- Chopan Kebab Restaurant, 200 Highland Road West, Kitchener
- Cobs Bread, 718 Belmont Avenue West, Kitchener
- Copper Branch, 80 King Street South, Unit 106, Waterloo
- Country Bulk, 845 Weber Street North, Waterloo
- The Crazy Canuck, 845 Weber Street North, Waterloo
- Daniel's Cheese and Deli, 250 Thompson Drive, Cambridge
- Davids Tea
- 2960 Kingsway Drive, Unit G002, Kitchener
- 95 King Street South, Waterloo
- Distinctly Tea, 187 King Street South, Waterloo
- Edelweiss Tavern, 600 Doon Village Road, Kitchener
- Ennio's Pasta
- 655 Fairway Road South, Kitchener
- 384 King Street North, Waterloo
- Frat Burger, 247 King Street North, Units 1A to 1B, Waterloo
- Fresh Ground, 256 King Street East, Kitchener
- Full Circle Foods, 3 Charles Street West, Kitchener
- Golf's Steakhouse, 598 Lancaster Street West, Kitchener
- Golden Hearth Bakery, 343 King Street East, Kitchener
- Good Vibes Juice Co., 1 King Street West, Kitchener
- Grand Trunk Saloon, 30 Ontario Street South, Kitchener
- Guanaquita Restaurant, 273 King Street West, Kitchener
- Imperial Market and Eatery, 60 Huron Street, New Hamburg
- Kenzo Ramen, 140 University Avenue West, Unit 6A, Waterloo
- King Wok Chinese Food, 501 Krug Street, Kitchener
- Kismet Restaurant, 160 University Avenue West, Waterloo
- Kypreos Restaurant, 305 Lancaster Street West, Kitchener
- La Casbah, 47 Scott Street, Kitchener
- Lana's Lounge, 220 King Street North, Kitchener
- Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster Street West, Kitchener
- Little Greek Grill, 10 Townsend Drive, Unit 18, Breslau
- The Lion Brewery Restaurant, 59 King Street North, Waterloo
- Mambellas Italian Kitchen, 160 Columbia Street West, Waterloo
- Mark's Caribbean Kitchen, 20 King Street East, Kitchener
- McMullans, 188 Highland Road West, Kitchener
- Mel's Diner
- 645 Westmount Road East, Kitchener
- 140 University Avenue, West, Waterloo
- Meltwich Food Co, 255 King Street North, Unit 2, Waterloo
- Mediterraneo Family Restaurant, 425 University Avenue, Waterloo
- Mikey's Eatery, 160 University Avenue West, Unit 7, Waterloo
- Moderno Rugatino, 383 Elgin Street North, Cambridge
- Mountain Oak Cheese Ltd., 3165 Huron Road, New Hamburg
- Mucho Burrito
- 594 Hespeler Road, Cambridge
- 4195 King Street East, Building B, Unit 102, Kitchener
- 220 King Street North, Waterloo
- My Thai, 51 King Street North, Waterloo
- Nostra Cucina, 31 Manitou Drive, Kitchener
- O and V Tasting Room, 2 Queen Street West, Cambridge
- Obie's Bar and Grill, 209 Pinebush Road, Unit 6A, Cambridge
- Pierogi House
- 4336 King Street East, Kitchener
- 655 Parkside Drive, Waterloo
- The Poke Box, 255 King Street North, Unit 3, Waterloo
- Princess Cafe, 46 King Street North, Waterloo
- Proof Kitchen and Lounge, 110 Erb Street West, Waterloo
- Pub on King, 77 King Street North, Waterloo
- Pupuseria Latinos, 25 Eby Street South, Kitchener
- Qdoba Mexican Eats, 10 Manitou Drive, Kitchener
- Queen Street Commons, 43 Queen Street South, Kitchener
- Quesada Burritos and Tacos
- 100 Jamieson Parkway, Unit 8, Cambridge
- 95 Saginaw Parkway, Unit 5A, Cambridge
- 324 Highland Road West, Unit 3, Kitchener
- Rawlicious, 718 Belmont Avenue West, Kitchener
- Ray Woodsy's Craft Chippery, 94 King Street South, Waterloo
- Red Ginger, 465 Highland Road West, Kitchener
- Settlement Co.
- 1 Victoria Street South, Kitchener
- 23 King Street North, Waterloo
- Seven Shores, 10 Regina Street North, Waterloo
- Shiri's Kitchen, 169 Lexington Court, Unit D, Waterloo
- Slice and Rice, 251 Hemlock Street, Unit 114, Waterloo
- Stark and Perri, 56 King Street North, Waterloo
- Sticks and Scones Cakes, 62 Balsam Street, Waterloo
- Taco Farm, 8 Erb Street West, Waterloo
- Taj Rasoi Indian Cuisine, 8 Bloomingdale Road North, Kitchener
- Taste of Creole, 878 Weber Street North, Waterloo
- Three Kretans, 151 Frederick Street, Kitchener
- T and J Seafood, 26 Elm Street, Unit 2G4, Kitchener
- Victoria Wholesome Food Market, 1373 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
- Vincenzo's, 150 Caroline Street South, Waterloo
- Wildcraft, 425 King Street North, Waterloo
- Wuddup Dog, 763 King Street East, Cambridge
- The Yeti, 14 Eby Street North, Kitchener
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