About the Louisville Be Trash SMART Program

Are you a proud resident of Louisville?
Is your home part of the city’s residential trash program?
Do you currently use one or more 64- or 96-gallon trash carts?

If you answered YES to these questions, you can save at least $5 per month on your monthly trash bill AND you can enter to win a $100 gift card to Alfalfa’s Market. You will be conserving natural resources, reducing your climate impact and helping our local economy!

If you already use a small trash cart (32 gallons) you can still enter to win.

Tips for reducing waste at home

In the Kitchen

Get a compost pail or bucket at your local hardware store for your food and paper scraps. Take it out to your compost cart every day to reduce odors.

Use durable plates and utensils for all your dining needs. Even outdoor eating is easy with washable, reusable plastic ware. If you are expecting a large party, you can use certified compostable plates, utensils, and cups. (Make sure the products say “certified compostable” before putting them in your curbside compost bin.)

In the Bathroom

Stick a small compost bin in each bathroom to collect paper towels and tissues.

Recycle your shampoo bottles.

In the Office

Use a small recycle bin to collect office paper, newspapers, mail and magazines.

While Shopping

Buy products that are minimally packaged. Examples include cereal in plastic bags only instead of boxes, and items that have only one packaging like a box and no outer plastic packaging.

Buy products that have packaging that can be reused or recycled. Cardboard can be recycled at the curb, and white block foam packaging and bubble wrap can be recycled at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Boulder. Fees may apply. Learn more at www.ecocycle.org/charm.

Buy in bulk when you can. Grocery stores have bulk dispensers that allow you to purchase the quantity of nuts, grains, beans or rice you need without a lot of extra packaging.

When cleaning out the garage or basement

Take items like old electronics, white block foam packaging, appliances, yoga mats and much more can be recycled (fees may apply) at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Boulder. Learn more at www.ecocycle.org/charm.

Tips for reducing odors and pests in your compost

To reduce odors in your kitchen, take food scraps out to your compost cart every day.

Put your food scraps in either a certified compostable bag (available at grocery stores) or paper bag before placing it in your compost cart

Cover food waste with newspapers or yard clippings to deter flies

Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your cart to reduce odors

Freeze your stinky items until pick up to prevent both maggots and odors