1. Reduce containers, packaging and printed matter at the source

Obviously! Reducing is the key to having a more eco-responsible lifestyle. If your recycling bin always fills up too quickly, maybe give some thought to receiving electronic statements, checking store flyers online, shopping with reusable bags and buying dry goods in bulk. As often as possible, choose family-size packages rather than individual portions.

2. Reuse it

Did your takeout come in a plastic container? Did your mom give you a glass jar full of soup? Reuse these food containers to store or preserve foods. A simple gesture, for sure, but it works!

3. Select the right packaging

Packaging has very specific functions: protection, conservation, food safety and transportation. For example, a wrapped cucumber may keep up to 2 weeks in the fridge. The plastic film that covers it means the cucumber won't spoil, and it has a smaller impact than the spoiled cucumber would have on the environment. In some cases, like for yogurt, large containers are always recyclable, which doesn't always apply to single-serving containers. Before choosing your products, find out about their packaging’s recyclability!

4. Avoid over-packaging

Unfortunately, packages are not all (yet!) created using a rigorous eco-design approach. Over-packaging is when the sole purpose of a package is to make the product more attractive to consumers. More and more companies are, however, optimizing their packaging by reducing its volume and the quantity of materials used. Check out some inspiring examples of eco-responsible packaging here.

5. Know how to identify recyclable and recycled materials

At the grocery store, at the hardware store, in big box stores... be on the look-out! Today, many companies sell products in packages made from recycled materials. By selecting and recycling those, you are helping protect natural resources, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

6. Sorting your recyclable materials the right way

Did you know that in Quebec, since 2005, over 2 tonnes worth of GHG emissions have been avoided thanks to various curbside recycling programs? Sorting and recycling your residual waste at home has a direct impact on the quality of what gets processed in the province's materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Every single day, your bin helps you make a concrete gesture for the environment.