Tips to Reduce Your Trash
Help Hampstead Increase our Recycling Rate: 25 Ways to Reduce your Trash
- Get rid of junk mail. Request that your name be removed from bulk mailing lists. Click here
- BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). Use your own reusable bags when shopping.
- When you do use plastic shopping bags, bring them back to the grocery store to recycle.
- Choose rechargeable batteries and long-life bulbs.
- Use ceramic mugs, cloth napkins & towels, plates and silverware instead of paper or plastic.
- Take your own mug/thermos to the coffee shop – often times you’ll get a discount.
- Bring egg cartons to your local food pantry where they will reuse them.
- Avoid individually wrapped portions (cheese slices, juice boxes, etc.).
- Host or attend a clothing swap where friends/family bring unwanted clothes to swap.
- Recycle used ink cartridges and cell phones at a local Staples
- Use concentrated products, such as juice and household cleaners.
- Make a backyard compost pile for kitchen/yard waste – it’s up to 30% of your trash weight. You can purchase an “Earth Machine” compost bin at the town hall for $60. (limited quantities available)
- Purchase products packaged in materials that the Town of Hampstead can recycle.
- Stop receiving catalogs by completing a form here.
- Donate clothing. shoes, stuffed animals at the recycling container located at the Hampstead Central School.
- Join the local Facebook yard sale pages and sell/donate items. Hampstead's Facebook yard sale site is names Hampstead,NH Online Yard Sale/Event Page
- Donate in season clean clothing to the Hampstead Friends of the Library Thrift Shop at the Hampstead Public Library
- Donate furniture & working appliances to Good Will or Salvation Army (pick-ups available by SA)
- Donate computers to National Cristina Foundation
- Donate unwearable clothing, i.e. ripped or stained clothing, missing socks, towels, sheets in any condition to the recycling container located at the Hampstead Central School.
- Buy cereals, grains, etc. in bulk – there’s no additional wrapping or packaging.
- Learn how to set up your printer so it prints double-sided when you need to print.
- Look for products with less or no packaging – i.e. tools, fresh produce, dry goods. Find a local farmer’s market here.
- Recycle ink/toner at RecyclePlace
- Recycle cell phones at nearby mall