Greenscape - Practice the 4 Rs

Recycling: Be sure to recycle as many products as you can. Especially remember to recycle the used oil and tires from your landscaping vehicles and equipment.

Rebuying: Rebuying means rethinking your purchasing habits. Look for products that still meet your needs, but are better for the environment. Many gardening products and tools are now made from recycled materials. Buying recycled-content products means manufacturers have to extract and transport fewer virgin materials and expend less energy during production. Buying recycled items also boosts the market for these products, encouraging more communities to recycle and more companies to sell recycled-content items.

Some lawn and garden products made with recycled materials include garden and soaker hoses made from recycled tires, garden edging made from recycled rubber, paths and play areas lined with wood chips, and stepping stones made from recycled glass. If you are building a new deck, bird house, flower bed, play equipment, or some other landscaping project, consider using plastic lumber made from recycled products such as milk jugs and plastic bags, or from recycled plastics mixed with sawdust, fiberglass, or resins. Plastic lumber is very durable and low-maintenance, is water- and insect-resistant, will not splinter, and will not absorb bacteria. You can also buy products such as planting pots and watering cans already made from recycled plastic.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

By reducing, reusing, recycling, and rebuying when you landscape, you can save money and reduce waste.

Reducing: Using manual garden tools instead of gas- or electric-powered ones can reduce fuel waste and protect air quality. Push mowers and mulchers, rakes, hoes, and shovels might require more work, but their use prevents waste, reduces air and noise pollution, and helps you get exercise and active time outdoors. When you do use large lawn and garden equipment such as driving mowers or chainsaws, you can reduce waste (and save money) by borrowing or renting this equipment.

Organize a neighborhood equipment sharing plan, or rent these items from a local hardware store or landscaping company. Reduce the amount of harmful pesticides you use—all pesticides are toxic to some degree. Spot treat areas whenever possible. In most cases, treating your entire yard is not necessary, especially when a problem is confined to specific areas. Treating more than necessary is wasteful and can be environmentally damaging. When using commercial chemical treatments, make sure to use them safely, and to read and follow the manufacturer's label instructions for use and disposal.

Reusing: Use rain barrels to collect rain water from your roof. Water your plants and garden with it and reduce your water bill, too. Such simple changes create huge ripples effect that improve and safeguard

our environment.