Walking into a grocery store can be an overwhelming experience: there are so many choices. What brand? What size? What flavor? What packaging'? By keeping the four R's in mind -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rebuy (or Buy Recycled) -- you can reduce waste, and save money, all by the simple process of shopping.

How do you apply the four Rs when shopping?

It's easiest to shop with the first R -- Reduce -- in mind. Look for ways to get more product and less packaging for your money. Take dry breakfast cereals for instance. Most are available in large, family-sized boxes, which reduces packaging over time. The idea of buying in larger size holds true for many products, from detergents to tomato sauces and pastes. Second, don't package products that don't need it. Fruits and vegetables are prime examples. Apples and carrots can be bought loose (or, if necessary, be put in a plastic bag brought from home). Third, reuse your paper, plastic, or cloth bags. And fourth, carry a shopping list to reduce the amount of impulse shopping you do, thereby reducing unnecessary waste.

The second R -- Reuse -- is also important. Buy groceries like juice, lunch supplies and condiments with reusable containers in mind. Juices can be purchased in concentrate form to be mixed in your own reusable containers. You can reduce a tremendous amount of lunch waste by avoiding single serving containers.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has compiled some statistics that speak to the urgency of implementing the credo of Reuse. The CIWMB determined that the average student disposes of 540 paper bags, disposable juice packs, and plastic sandwich bags a year. Multiply those numbers by the millions of students eating lunches in California schools and you begin to appreciate the need for more responsible shopping habits. Remember, many condiments like ketchup, mustard and salad dressing can be purchased in large containers to reduce waste.

Don't forget to also buy with Recycling -- the third R -- in mind. If you can't reuse an item, or plan to dispose of it, make sure the item is recyclable. Typically, this means it is cardboard, glass, aluminum, tin, or specific kinds of plastic. For example, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics are readily recyclable. (If you are not sure whether the plastic container is a No. 1 or 2 plastic, and therefore can be recycled, ask store management. And if they don't know, ask them to find out!). Recycling is important, but it is often more effective to prevent waste before it is generated in the first place. That's why the first R -- Reduce -- is the top priority.

Finally, Buy Recycled -- buy products made with recycled material. Purchasing these products helps turn waste reduction strategies into economic development opportunities. The packaging on many products lists whether recycled material is used. Buying these products helps "close the loop," and because these products use fewer resources, you will be helping the environment.

Buying with the four Rs in mind can help build up the piggy bank and help the [insert County/City name] reach its state waste reduction goals. What better reason to shop responsibly and help your community to do its part to help avert a waste crisis in California.