SAN DIEGO, May 8, 2006 - As people count down the days to their summer getaways, Waste Management of San Diego asks local residents to stay litter-wise and take good recycling habits with them as they travel, particularly if they will be taking car trips for their vacations.

“Recycling and trash disposal are easy to do when there’s a regular collection service at home or work, but it’s important to be a good neighbor even while on the go so that everyone has a chance to enjoy the view litter-free,” said Carl Scherbaum, district manager of Waste Management of San Diego.

Being litter-wise is easy:

• Start by being vigilant about excess packaging as you prepare for your trip.
• If you purchase items on the road, keep your used shopping bags in the car and reuse them when you can, even if just for collecting your trash while you’re in the car so you can dispose of it at a rest stop or when you get home.
• If you buy take-out food along the road, ask the salespeople to reduce the amount of packaging and forgo environmentally unfriendly packaging like polystyrene (“foam”) and plastics, in favor of paper bags, whenever practical.
• Travel with individual water bottles so that you don’t have to buy disposable bottles on the road. You might also want to travel with lightweight coffee mugs that can be refilled.
• When visiting attractions, try to grab just one set of handouts or maps per family to share, rather than one set per person. When buying souvenirs, make sure they are durable, useful items that won’t end up in the trash when your trip is over.

Being litter-wise also includes good recycling habits. It’s true that finding places to recycle on the road can be tough. Many cities, however, will often have some sort of recycling program.

• Look for centers set up at local grocery stores you pass by. You can even get the kids involved to make recycling a family effort by having them look out for creative opportunities for recycling and reuse.
• Instead of ditching your newspapers or magazines in the trash, ask at coffee shops or in your hotel lobby if they would like to keep your newspaper around for another customer to read. Many airports and train stations also offer recycling, as do some airlines in-flight.
• If you’re visiting family or friends, ask if they recycle and leave the recyclable items you accumulate during your trip with them before you leave to go home.
• Ask your tour guide or the staff at the attractions you visit where you can take your recyclables.

“Being a green traveler is about keeping litter where it belongs and about recycling more. You can think green to help keep our natural resources clean and enjoyable,” said Scherbaum. “Whatever you do, whether you can recycle or not, please put litter where it belongs – in the trash – and never throw it out the window, leave it on the side of the road or in a parking lot or a natural setting.”

Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. For more information about recycling, log onto www.wm.com.

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