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The energy used in making products and their packaging, the disposal of all this waste, and the methane generated in landfills contribute to GHG emissions – about half a tonne per person each year.

Recycling saves energy and conserves our natural resources. Making goods from recycled materials instead of new materials uses less energy. When we use less energy we burn fewer fossil fuels and emit fewer GHGs into the atmosphere.

When we don't compost the organic household waste from our kitchens and yards, it decomposes in landfills, producing methane – one of the main GHGs. We can avoid generating this methane by using a home composter or a central composting facility.

We can all put less stress on the environment by being selective consumers and recycling and composting whenever we can.

Waste and recycling

Compost your organic kitchen waste You can compost fruits, vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds, as well as leaf and yard waste. Compost makes valuable fertilizer and reduces the amount of waste in landfills. By composting, a family of three can reduce GHGs by more than one eighth of a tonne each year.

Pay attention to goods and packaging Evaluate your purchases and consider how they contribute to your household waste. Buy more durable goods and re-usable products. And ask for products with less packaging.

Recycle all recyclable materials Find out what materials can be recycled in your municipality and challenge your household to make sure those materials don’t get thrown in the garbage. Every extra kilogram of fine paper you recycle is four kilograms fewer GHGs.

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