Tips to Reduce Your Trash

Help Hampstead Increase our Recycling Rate: 25 Ways to Reduce your Trash

  1. Get rid of junk mail. Request that your name be removed from bulk mailing lists. Click here
  2. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). Use your own reusable bags when shopping.
  3. When you do use plastic shopping bags, bring them back to the grocery store to recycle.
  4. Choose rechargeable batteries and long-life bulbs.
  5. Use ceramic mugs, cloth napkins & towels, plates and silverware instead of paper or plastic.
  6. Take your own mug/thermos to the coffee shop – often times you’ll get a discount.
  7. Bring egg cartons to your local food pantry where they will reuse them.
  8. Avoid individually wrapped portions (cheese slices, juice boxes, etc.).
  9. Host or attend a clothing swap where friends/family bring unwanted clothes to swap.
  10. Recycle used ink cartridges and cell phones at a local Staples
  11. Use concentrated products, such as juice and household cleaners.
  12. 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)
  13. Purchase products packaged in materials that the Town of Hampstead can recycle.
  14. Stop receiving catalogs by completing a form here.
  15. Donate clothing. shoes, stuffed animals at the recycling container located at the Hampstead Central School.
  16. 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
  17. Donate in season clean clothing to the Hampstead Friends of the Library Thrift Shop at the Hampstead Public Library
  18. Donate furniture & working appliances to Good Will or Salvation Army (pick-ups available by SA)
  19. Donate computers to National Cristina Foundation
  20. 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.
  21. Buy cereals, grains, etc. in bulk – there’s no additional wrapping or packaging.
  22. Learn how to set up your printer so it prints double-sided when you need to print.
  23. Look for products with less or no packaging – i.e. tools, fresh produce, dry goods. Find a local farmer’s market here.
  24. Recycle ink/toner at RecyclePlace
  25. Recycle cell phones at nearby mall