Trash, garbage, waste.

The name we give our unwanted items represent the low value we attribute to them. Who would want old notebooks, pizza crusts, or plastic bags?

With every Washingtonian producing approximately eight pounds of solid waste per day according to the Department of Ecology, we have an obligation to ensure not all of it ends up in a landfill. Thankfully, these disposables can go on to have a second, third, or even fourth life if we put in a little effort.

The best ways are often the cheapest.

Yard sales are a dorm room or an apartment dweller’s best friend. They reduce waste and the impact on your wallet. The UW even sells used items from the university. The UW surplus store sells everything from school supplies to bicycles at student-friendly prices. Many local shops will also give you a discount if you bring your own bag or container. For example, you can get a $1.25 drip coffee if you bring your own cup to a campus café.

Alas, reuse will only get you so far.

Some items, such as that week-old takeout, are simply beyond repair. However, both the city of Seattle and the UW provide you with ample opportunity to avoid disposal in your nearest black bag of despair.

The UW has made it particularly easy to learn the art of recycling.

Bins are both plentiful and conveniently located around campus. Almost everything is acceptable for recycling. A non-exhaustive list includes cans, bottles, paper products, some plastics, batteries, cell phones and CDs/DVDs. In some cases, extra containers can even be requested for buildings or special events.

Even the intractable problem of uneaten food is easy at the UW. All campus dining areas have compost bins that accept food scraps, compostable containers, and soiled paper products such as pizza boxes and napkins.

For those students who live off campus, the city of Seattle provides curbside recycling and food and yard waste collection. Recycling and composting is no more difficult than taking out the trash.

The most important consideration when recycling or composting is making sure the right material goes into the correct bin. A 2006 King County study found that 29,800 tons of non-recyclable material entered county recycling facilities. Even if as little as 3 percent non-compostable materials make it into a compost bin, it may make it unsuitable for collection.

If you are unsure where an item goes, both the UW and Seattle provide helpful online guides.

While waste can seem inevitable, you can significantly reduce your own impact with a little forethought and effort. In many cases, simple changes can have a beneficial effect. With a 50 percent recycling rate, Seattleites are ahead of the curve in this country.

But that means we are still sending half of our waste to the landfill. As students, we can do better than that and set an example for the rest of the nation.

Reach columnist Mike Noon at opinion@dailyuw.com.