OREGON — The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department suggests waste reduction as a possible alternative to trying in vain to exercise more or attempting a fad diet for a couple of weeks.
To trim down the garbage bags or eliminate one of the trash cans per week, consider these waste reduction alternatives in order to send less to the landfill.
Cut back on food waste by planning meals accordingly and using left overs in a timely fashion.  Certain food scraps can go into a simple backyard compost bin, so items like fruit and vegetable trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds and such can be turned into compost instead of becoming garbage.
Consider donations to local thrift shops or other charitable organizations.  Gently used items like clothes, shoes, coats, hats, furniture, toys, bikes, tools, and other household items, can be donated instead of tossed out for the trash.

Try to avoid single use items such as paper or foam plates, foam cups, plastic utensils, paper napkins, straws, and water bottles.  Look for reusable alternatives to these items such as washable dinnerware and utensils, and always use refillable water bottles and coffee cups.
When shopping try to use reusable shopping bags. Plastic bags are not recyclable through your normal comingled recycling pick-ups and hinder the recycling process.  Certain retail stores have a recycling station so you may recycle your plastic bags.
For those fortunate enough to have a curbside recycling service, please use that service accordingly and learn what to put into the bin and what to leave out.  The only items that are truly recyclable include all aluminum and metal cans, cardboard, clean paper products such as newsprint, magazines, phone books, catalogs, office paper, and junk mail, clean glass bottles and jars, and clean plastic items No. 1-5 and No. 7.  Leave out the Styrofoam, plastic bubble wrap, plastic bags and pizza boxes, as these do not get recycled and have contributed to the diminishing value of recyclable material locally and nationwide.
Start off 2020 with your new resolution of making less garbage. To assist with any and all waste reduction questions, please contact the OCSWMD at 815-732-4020, visit oglecounty.org, or see the Facebook page at: Ogle County Solid Waste Management Dept.