The 3 "Rs" In origin this reffered to the foundations of a
basic skills orientated education program in schools: reading,
writing and arithmetic. Now we use it for Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle.
The 3 Rs of the environment: reduce, reuse, recycle. Ideals which have been around for a while now and we maybe all know them but do we practice them?
Companies
are always selling us a new ideas.
The latest seems
to be that
we can shop our way to a healthier planet. What
is the cold truth is that we really
need
to avoid buying new things! Global
warming, deforestation, and other earthly ills cannot be solved by
switching brands. We
need to eliminate unecessary purchases wherever
possible!
It
takes resources to manufacture and transport all products, even those
made from recycled
content. At
the very least, energy is spent. And spending resources leaves the
world poorer, not better off. So just
avoid those things we really don’t need!
Buying
nothing is better for the earth than buying green.
Reduce,
reuse and recycle!
Reduce:
"Reduce"
means using fewer resources in the first place. This is the most
effective of the three Rs
and the place to begin. This
is really
where
we need to start.
Purchase
products which need less packaging limiting the waste we are
producing. Also
avoid
unecessary purchases.
When you shop, shop differently. Look for things that will last -
things that are not just durable and well-made, but useful and
which will please you for a long time.
The
extra money you maybe spend on their purchase will be offset by the
money you do not spend replacing them. Don't chase the latest
fashions. They will age the fastest.
Reuse:
Before
you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it can be reused
in any way.
Avoid all disposal bags and
cups. Reuse
the ones you have. Reusing keeps new resources from
being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the
waste stream. It's as important as it is unglamorous. Think about how
you can do it more.
I
am always thinking of ways to reuse and “upcycle” old things. I
will be sharing a few of these in the future.
Recycle:
Recycling
is now so easy. When we really have to eliminate things we now have
garbage collection where we can throw things selectively.
Plastic, paper, glass, magazines, electronics and more can be processed into new products while using fewer natural resources and less energy. Organic waste can be used as compost.
Here in the village we have door to door pickup. In my house the biggest thing to throw is always plastic! Even though I try to avoid buying things with excess packaging there is always so much.
This
is the area I really need to work on reducing. I need to cut down
still more on the plastic coming into my house.
Try
to learn what the recycling
rules are
in your own community and follow them whether they make obvious sense
or not. It's the easiest way to do your part.
As for
shopping for green products, by all means, do so,
but only
when you really need the thing you're shopping for.
What
are your ideas for applying the “3
Rs”?
