The 3 Rs of the environment—reduce, reuse, recycle—have been around for some time, but many people have grown lax in following them. Perhaps the War Advertising Council said it best in 1944 as they promoted the conservation of gas, rubber, silk, and other scarce resources.
Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without
Every year, Americans throw away 50 billion food and drink cans, 27 billion glass bottles and jars, and 65 million plastic and metal jar and can covers. More than 30% of our waste is packaging materials. Where does it all go? Some 85% of our garbage is sent to dumps or landfills, although we quickly run out of space.
- Reduce. Purchase products that require less packaging or limit the waste you are producing.
- Reuse. Use a travel mug or reusable water bottle and avoid single-use bags.
- Recycle. Paper, plastic, glass, magazines, electronics, and more can be processed into new products while using fewer natural resources and less energy.
Why the 3 Rs?
The three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle – all help cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space, and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills. Siting a new landfill has become more expensive due to environmental regulations and public opposition.
I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before, but with the “green” word now co-opted in the service of sales, the 3 Rs are a phrase – and a principle – worth reviving.
Reduce
“Reduce” means using fewer resources in the first place. It is the most effective of the three Rs and the place to begin. “Reduce” is a comparative word. It says: cut back from where you are now.
When you shop, shop differently. Look for things that will last, things that are not just durable, long-lasting, but useful and beautiful enough to please you for a long time. Don’t chase the latest fashions. They will age the fastest.
With electronics, extravagance may pay. A super-charged computer will still run the software that comes out two years from now, and a large monitor will accommodate the ever wider web pages that companies will be building then. Similarly, a cell phone with a full-text keypad (or the iPhone) will see you through the text-messaging era that is upon us. When you make a purchase, find out how to keep the item in shape. Then, maintain it accordingly and repair it when necessary.
Reuse
Reuse is when a product is used again in the same form and for the same purpose. It is one of the best ways to stop waste, and there are tons of opportunities to put it into practice every day. Single-use items are permanent products that become trash after only minutes of use. Do your best to choose reusable. For example, bring your reusable shopping bag to the grocery store and beyond. If you do have single-use bags, use them again. Bring lunches in a reusable bag with reusable food and drink containers. Select sturdy and washable utensils and tableware at home, picnics, and parties. Mend clothing and repair shoes, boots, handbags, and luggage whenever possible, etc.
Recycle
Recycling is the “R” that has caught on the best. Partly, this is because there are so many curbside recycling programs today, which makes recycling so easy. What keeps it from being a total piece of cake is the rules. Every municipality has its own, and they are not always as straightforward as they could be.
For example, towns are usually particular about the plastics they accept for recycling. Most only take packaging made from #1 (PET or PETE) and #2 (HDPE) resins. You need to look at the bottom of the package for the chasing arrow symbol and check that the number.
So though it’s a pain, try to learn what the recycling rules are in your community and follow them whether they make perfect sense or not. It’s the easiest way to do your part. As for shopping for green products, by all means, do when you need the thing.
