How to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: the Second "R"
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: We usually focus on the third "R," recycle, but these steps are placed in order of importance. A downside of recycling is that, even with the best of intentions, most things end up in landfills. Another is that recycling takes energy; which we want to conserve, and making new products to replace what we recycled takes energy too. If we reduce our use of stuff, there will be less to recycle.
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Instructions
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Don't go shopping! That's right, that's what I said. We have a desire to "DO" something, but in this case, the best option is to do nothing. Wear your old shoes a little longer before you buy those cute new "earth friendly" shoes.
Unless it's a gas-guzzling clunker, drive your car a little longer too. That is actually better for the environment than buying the lastest ZEV vehicle. There is an environmental cost to making new products. Take good care of the car you have to keep it driving at its optimal level, inflate your tires and avoid "rabbit starts," and remember, "is this trip necessary?"
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Reusable shopping bags are all the rage, and they might be the only option in the future. Buy stylish canvas ones. Even better, look for them at thrift stores.
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You can still reuse plastic bags. Use them in the bathroom trash basket. Keep dust off items high in your closet, like off-season clothes and shoes.
(See my article, "How to make plastic plastic-bag holder") -
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Papers have two sides. Use both. Save them for children's art projects, or print documents on both sides.
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Reuse gifts bags, tissue paper and bows. (You'll save money, too!) Set aside a gift area in your home, and when you're ready to wrap a gift, you'll have bags in different sizes and colors ready to use.
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Pass hand-me-downs to the people you love. Children grow so fast that their used clothes are often clean, and (maybe) still in style.
Make use of E-Bay, Craigslist and Freecycle.
Trade clothes and costume jewelry with your friends. Shop at consignment shops, "gently used" boutiques, yard sales and thrift stores. You'll be surprised at what treasures you can find.
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Find new uses for what you already have. Old pillowcases can be used for off-season storage. Need a pencil holder? Try an extra mug or a candleholder. Used toothbrushes clean hard-to-reach corners and around sink faucets. (Be sure to mark them as used first.)
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Don't buy throw-away items when you can buy reusable ones. Use towels, not paper towels. Use silverware, not plastic-ware. Buy a reusable drink bottle for each member of your family. Use rechargeable batteries. (Please don't throw batteries in landfills: Call2Recycle.)
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Reuse what you can; even if society thinks you can't.
Reusing things like baggies might get you labeled a nutcase, but there are good ways to reuse them. Use them to hold extra wires, out-of-season decorations, small toys and craft supplies. The possibilites are endless. -
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Donate. Not only are you keeping potentially useful items out of landfills, but you are keeping people employed. Salvation Army and Goodwill are just two of many organizations that help people and resell used items.
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Tips & Warnings
Here's a list of things that shouldn't be thrown away after one use. I'm sure you can think of more:
Plastic baggies- If possible, use a plastic re-sealable container instead. But when you do use baggies, they can be used again for many non-food items.
Plastic grocery bags- Line garbage cans. Use in your car as a garbage bag.
Blankets- Put in the trunk of your car for emergencies. Use for picnics, concerts, visits to the beach. Give to the dog, instead of buying fancy "beds."
Glass Bottles- Use as a vase. Some are very pretty!
Plastic Bottles- Fill small bottles with water and freeze. Use in coolers or lunch boxes to keep items cool. When you freeze them, leave the cap open a bit and leave some room in the bottle for the water to expand when it freezes.
Baby Wipe Containers- Great for storage, and stackable.
Shoe Boxes- Store mementos like cards, pictures and children's artwork. Keep to use for your kids school projects. Use them to store small toys, recipes, odds and ends, art and sewing supplies, etc.
Egg Cartons- Use to sprout seedlings before transplanting. Break up the Styrofoam and use a packing material. Use to store jewelry.
Envelopes(unused)- Put a sticker over your address, and reuse. Use for storing receipts. Use for storing and carrying coupons.
Fabric Softener Sheets- Use as stuffing for decorative pillows and stuffed animals. Put in your sock or underwear drawer to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Tear the sheets in half before using in the dryer to reduce the number you use. Use to dust your furniture. Place inside shoes at night to keep them smelling fresh. (Better yet: don't use them. They're full of chemicals.)
Flower Pots- Use for making sand castles or snow forts. Keep a pot by the dryer to collect lint. Store fruits and vegetables on your counter. Use a small pot as a candy jar. Use for crafts. Store gardening tools - toys - remotes - anything that needs to be stored!
Garden Hose- Poke holes along the length of the hose and make it into a soaker hose. Cut into smaller sections and attach to the metal handles on buckets to make them more comfortable to carry. Use to tie up young trees for support.
Greeting Cards- Cut and use as bookmarks. Make into ornaments. Make into gift tags.
Resources
- Photo Credit Carrie Mooney, Microsoft Word
