Spring Cleaning, Part 2

Much of our spring-cleaning tasks have to do with checking the expiration dates on food and beverage containers and other consumer products that have specific shelf lives. Know the difference in expiration dates. Foods showing a use by date written on the packaging should not be eaten after that date. Best before or best by dates appear on a wide range of foods. These dates are advisory and refer to the quality of the product, in contrast with use by dates.

The common-sense practice would be to follow these dates when purchasing food items to make sure you plan to use them by the dates shown. That way, you can avoid throwing them out creating unnecessary waste. Remember, too, non-food items can have expiration dates. Those dates can assist you in reducing waste. One seasonal item that serves as a good example is sunscreen. Last season’s spray or lotion may be out of date for this season. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Those are the environments’ “Three-Rs” to live by.