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Reduce paper mail by using a junk mail opt-out service

To reduce your junk mail, follow this guide to reducing junk mail, or try a junk mail opt-out service such as DirectMail.com, 41pounds.org, or Catalog Choice. Call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT or visit OptOutPrescreen.com to reduce unwanted credit card and insurance mailings.

Dispose of cigarette butts properly, if applicable

A cigarette butt may seem like a small piece of waste, but throwing it on the ground can do a lot of damage. Instead, dispose of it in a cigarette waste receptacle or trash can.

Cigarette filters are made of a fibrous material called cellulose acetate that takes many years to decompose. Cigarettes that are flicked on the ground or flushed down a drain pollute our local waterways and are eventually carried to the Chesapeake Bay by storm drains and wastewater systems. This “marine debris” is harmful to many plants and animals in the environment. According to the Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup reports, cigarette butts are the most common form of ocean debris. According to Clean Virginia Waterways, cigarette filters, cigar tips, and tobacco packaging account for 38% of the marine debris collected worldwide.

Use cloth, hybrid, organic, or chlorine-free diapers or feminine products

Approximately 27.4 billion disposable diapers are thrown away in the United States each year, and the average woman disposes of 300 lbs of feminine products in a lifetime. Disposable diapers and feminine products contain toxic materials that endanger consumers and the environment. Learn more about the impacts of disposable diapers and impacts of disposable feminine products.

Cloth products are the most environmentally-friendly, as they can be washed and reused. If you prefer a disposable product, consider using hybrid or bleach-free disposable diapers or organic feminine products. Hybrid diapers are cloth exteriors with a disposable liner. Read more about the pros and cons of diaper choices and feminine product choices.

Pledge to dispose of pet waste properly

When pet waste is left on the ground, rainwater can wash it into storm drains and surface waters, contributing to nutrient pollution of local waterways. Nutrient pollution often leads to algae blooms and decreased oxygen concentration, which harm aquatic plant and animal species.

Remember to take a bag with you to pick up your pet’s waste when you go for a walk. Leave some bags in your purse, car, or by the front door to help you remember. While pet waste can be thrown away with the trash, it adds unnecessary volume to landfills, uses plastic bags, and causes problems for trash collectors. The most environmentally friendly options are flushing the pet waste down the toilet, burying it away from food crops, or using an outdoor pet waste composter. Check out these purchasable pet waste composters.

Minimize stockpiling of excess paint

In order to cut down on paint stockpiling, donate unwanted usable paint, properly dispose of outdated paint, and be sure to buy only the paint that you absolutely need. To properly store paint, close it tightly and write down the date that you opened it. Donate unwanted paint in usable condition to friends or charity organizations. Unopened paint cans can be donated at the Frederick Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 622 North Market Street, Frederick.

Unwanted paint must be dried before being disposed of at a landfill or in the trash. To dry paint, add paint hardener available at home improvement stores or add a clumping agent such as sand, mulch, or kitty litter and allow to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Read more about proper paint disposal.

Properly dispose of used fluorescent light bulbs

Incorrect disposal of CFL bulbs and fluorescent tubes can result in mercury being released into the environment. The Common Market in Frederick and chains such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, IKEA, and MOM’s Organic Market provide free CFL recycling to customers.

In addition, fluorescent bulbs can be disposed of at free Frederick County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days held at 5370 Public Safety Place, Frederick. For more information on drop-off days, call 301.600.1848.

Make sure to follow instructions for proper clean-up if you break a fluorescent bulb.