Fight to keep our air, land and water clean by making the trash can a last resort. The more we divert from the landfill, the better our environment will be.

At Publix, we periodically assign a team of associates to review the contents in our retail and support dumpsters to determine what could have been salvaged or recycled. The information is compiled, reviewed and shared with associates so they can help divert items from unnecessarily entering the landfill in the future.

Do the right thing at work and home — think before you throw items away. First, decide whether the item can be reused or donated like used binders or clothing. If you can reuse the item, keep it around until you need it. If you can’t reuse it, decide whether someone else can.

• At work, talk to your manager about whether the item can be donated. Your manager can contact the recycle and solid waste team to do the research. And if it can’t, see if it can be recycled by taking a look at your recycle poster.
• At home, do a quick online search of what organizations are in need of your items. Many organizations will even provide free shipping labels and some offer tax deductions. If you don’t find a match, find out if your local recycling department can accept it.

Preventing your unwanted items from entering the landfill can benefit both you and others. If we all do our part to protect the environment, we’ll help provide a cleaner, safer world for generations to come.

Don’t toss that old dress! Since 1997, Dress for Success has been helping women in need by providing professional clothing, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and life. And so far, they’ve helped more than 850,000 women across 20 countries. If you’re interested in donating, Dress for Success accepts gently used clothing donations to support the program. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org for more information.