the 5'rs 

easy

REFUSE plastic straws, drink lids, coffee cups, single-use utensils, and the like

easy

REFUSE to buy or take free products you won't actually use

hard

REFUSE to buy items that are packaged or overly packaged

hardest

REFUSE to buy, use, or invest in products created by the world's biggest polluters

easy

BYOB: bring your own bags, including bags for your produce

easy

BYOU: bring your own utensils (and takeout containers)

hard

BSH: buy second hand as much as possible

hardest

LTR: learn to repair or have items fixed instead of purchasing new items; borrow if you need to

easy

REUSE or repurpose mason jars for preserving, buying and storing foods, beverage containers, terrariums, and more...

easy

REUSE reusable items, like water bottles, straws, bags, mugs - including items that you purchase second-hand. 

hard

UPCYCLE just about anything - there are thousands of ideas ranging from easy or cheap (like turning a plastic bottle into a cup holder) to hard or expensive (like turning a bath tub into a pond) on Pinterest and other sites. The hardest part might just be finding time to do them.

hardest (maybe)

REUSE like your (great or great-great) grandparents did: track down a milk delivery service, diaper with cloth, sew your own clothes, rinse and reuse aluminum foil, or repurpose those food bits you normally toss out into new recipes. Here are some more ideas.

easy

Build your own COMPOST bin or pile. There are many designs ranging from apartment living to the large-acreage lifestyle. Here are 23 ingenious do-it-yourself compost bins ideas.

easy

COMPOST only what you cannot use again; challenge yourself to find new ways to use food scraps for other recipes or to regrow produce on your window sill.Did you see the ad for regrowing romaine lettuce? Here's the instructions.

hard

Actually use your COMPOST or find someone to give it to. Unless you have a garden to mix compost in, it may seem pointless to do it. But a lot of people will take free compost if you post it on online marketplaces or simply put it out on your driveway.

hard

Maintaining your COMPOST can be a process, especially if you don't put the right things into it. But doing the research goes a long way, and understanding the science will help. 

easy

Check for the RECYCLE symbol (triangle made of three arrows) on plastic items. If it doesn't have the symbol, it can't be recycled. Plastic with numbers 1-5 in the triangle are the most likely to be recycled. Numbers 6 (foam products) and 7 (a mixture of different plastics) should be avoided, as it's unlikely they'll be accepted for recycling.

easy

Collect and RECYCLE beverage containers that say CRV, CA Cash Refund, CA Cash Redemption Value or California Redemption Value at a Certified Recycling Center. You paid the price (5 or 10 cents) when you bought it, so why not get it back? Learn more from CalRecycle.

hard

Cities and counties can have different requirements for RECYCLING (and for green waste). Do the research and follow the directions. Some of the most common mistakes people make are placing plastic bags and Styrofoam in their recycle bins.

hardest

RECYCLING is the last of the 5R's for a couple of reasons: 1) only ~9% of recyclable material in the US is actually recycled because most of it is contaminated with food, damaged by water, or mixed with something it shouldn't be; and 2) recycling uses energy and creates pollution. Recycling is the last resort - requiring serious investment in the other 4R's.