What Should I Do Instead?

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Learn Not to Burn

Recycling and Composting are inexpensive, easy, and not a threat to the environment or your health! Take a break from burning, and try these alternatives: 

Reduce Waste

• Buy in bulk
• Purchase products that are recycled and recyclable
• Bring your own reusable tote bags to the store, or reuse plastic and paper bags
• Share magazine subscriptions
• Get your name removed from junk mail lists

Reuse Products

• Reuse materials like food containers,envelopes, the back side of copy paper, and plastic bags
• Compost kitchen organic waste, yard waste, and even cereal boxes ripped up into small pieces
• Use construction materials and pieces of leftover lumber for new projects

Recycle When Possible

• Recycle items you can no longer use or reuse, including glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tin and aluminum, office paper, junk mail, cardboard, newspaper and more
• Tear or shred account statements

Reject Unnecessary Goods

• Refuse items with too much packaging
• Say “No, thanks” to grocery bags when you only have a few items

Finally, as an alternative to backyard burning, shop around for the best price on trash pickup, or consider dropping trash off at designated locations in the county. Once you follow the “4 R’s” listed above, the amount of trash you produce should decrease, and so will your disposal fees.

Content for this page was written or compiled by CCE of Schuyler County.

Last updated May 23, 2025