Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Have you ever given any thought to why recycle is the last part of the three R’s of waste management?
During all the research I did about where our trash was going and why (detailed in Part 1 of the recycling series), I also learned that recycling isn’t even that helpful in the grand scheme of things, hence the reason its importance is ranked below that of reducing and reusing.
Sure, if everyone could get on board and recycle correctly and the materials got processed appropriately then it would have a tremendous effect on our environment, but unfortunately that is not the reality we live in.
Most of us have heard of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Some of us even had to memorize a song about it in elementary school! A few months ago I was talking to a family friend about my intentions with this blog and when we got on this topic she told me her daughter had memorized a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle song in grade school and still remembers it to this day!
I think this is amazing that these things are being taught in school and I wish it were a more universal subject that students learn. I never learned anything about this in the schools I attended. In case your kids aren’t going over these subjects in school, I'll be linking some fun resources for them in this blog post to get their wheels turning so you can begin to nurture an eco-conscious mindset.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle should be practiced in order which leaves recycling as a last resort.
When making purchases, whether in person or online, opt for items with minimal or no packaging to minimize the trash you generate.
This is where strategies such as taking your own produce bags, carrying a reusable cup and straw, and making other sustainable swaps becomes a useful tool in reducing your overall waste.
When trying to decide if you should buy something or not, be mindful of the lifecycle of the product. What will happen to it once you’re done using it?
There are some purchases that are unavoidable and it’s important to remind yourself that sustainability is a journey not a destination. Aside from groceries and other necessities, do your best to buy products that will last a long time in your home and enrich your life in more than one way.
Another easy way to reduce your overall waste is to shop for secondhand products. If you’re looking for something specific check out thrift stores, estate sales, eBay, thredUP, and garage sales! You’ll avoid any contribution to the industry of “fast fashion” when you buy your clothes secondhand. Clothes and textiles are the number one source of microplastics in the ocean.
You can find some unique items that are of great quality while shopping secondhand, and once you’ve cleaned them up and put them to use you realize they are just as good as new products.
I’ll be honest though, I don’t like buying used items for my children. I’m okay with passed down clothes from cousins and such, but I won’t buy used toys, car seats, highchairs, etc. If there’s anything I’ve learned from parenthood, it’s this: Kids are nasty, y’all. I can be quite the germaphobe so I’d rather just avoid used children’s items.
It’s okay if there are some items you won’t make compromises on, just try to limit the amount of those items you buy.
Think twice before putting an item in the trash. Find another use for it, donate, or sell it.
Reusing and/or repurposing an item is my favorite option. It gives you an opportunity to be resourceful and creative. There is still a part of me that loves to declutter quickly by throwing things away, but the more I learn and practice, I find it’s just as gratifying to give new life to something as it is to have it out of sight.
I’ve recently started reusing Ziploc bags by rinsing them with warm water and dish soap and then hanging them on a dish rack to dry. I plan on investing in a collection of Stasher bags at some point, but not until I’ve exhausted the plastic bags I have around the house. So far I’ve noticed they hold up very well! Some people even stick theirs on the top rack of their dishwasher to wash and dry them, but I’m not that courageous yet.
Repurposing can become a sort of hobby if you let yourself go that far. If you’re dying to change up the look inside your home and want to replace your furniture, of course you could always sell it, but you can also turn it into an updated piece that comes alive with new colors and textures.
I’ve repurposed and upcycled lots of furniture in the past with my mother and those have ended up being my favorite pieces of furniture. They’re unique and one of a kind, and one day I’ll treasure them even more than I do now when I think of the memories I made with my mama.
You can repurpose nearly anything from empty candle jars to old doors. Let your creative side flourish and enjoy your newly styled pieces! Even if creativity isn’t a strong suit for you, you can still give something a fresh coat of paint and swap out knobs and handles.
“It’s not about perfection,
it’s about making better choices”
Separate your trash from your recyclables and make sure there is nothing that can be reused, donated, or sold before throwing it away.
Recycling should be reserved for when reducing and reusing aren’t applicable.
In Part 1 of the Recycling Series I described how difficult it could be to recycle properly and in Part 2 I simplified an at-home system for identifying and organizing your recyclables and provided resources for making sure you get those materials to the right place.
Recycling is a positive effort to make towards a healthier environment and it’s one of the first things that come to mind for most people when they think about our world’s environmental crisis. When done properly, recycling can make a big difference in our communities.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is an eco-conscious mindset and while it is certainly attainable, it is definitely not natural. Most mindsets that have to be practiced aren’t natural, and it’s harder to practice a mindset than it is to practice a skill set. However, once you get the hang of things you’ll realize there are many purchases you can avoid and a plethora of items you can reuse instead of trashing. Sooner than later it will become a skill set- one you can pass along to others.
Bibliography
Kathryn Kellogg. 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste. New York: The Countryman Press, 2019.
