Reduce
Reuse Recycle Tips
Most of us could
probably benefit from a major rethink about the
amount of things we consume and the waste we
create. Reduce Reuse Recycle Tips look at how we
can reduce the amount of waste we produce, as
well as how we can reuse existing items to
reduce the amount of waste going into landfill
sites and creating more pollution. Reusing and
reducing the number of unwanted items is more
important and fundamentally greener than simply
deciding to use your local recycling bins.
Nonetheless, recycling unwanted items is very
important and something that most of us can
introduce into our lives fairly easily.
Modern
labor-saving devices designed to revolutionize
housework are, on the whole, 'disposable' and
therefore not environmentally friendly. After
all, what exactly does disposable mean?
Manufacturers create disposable items so that
people buy more, but what right do they have to
say whether it is acceptable to keep buying
sponge cleaners and throwing them away a week
later? The manufacture of these items
contributes to the pollution of the environment,
and the resources being wasted. We can happily
live without them by making a few simple
decisions about how to change our lifestyles.
Think green
Before you even
start to think about recycling your household
waste, why not give some thought to ways of
reducing the amount of waste you create in the
first place? There are hundreds of ways we can
cut down on the amount of rubbish we produce
each week, such as reducing unnecessary
consumption and reusing and repairing items that
might otherwise end up being thrown away. We
have all heard the saying 'buy cheap buy twice'
and it does make sense to buy fewer,
better-quality items, which will last for longer
and which can be repaired if they break down -
this applies to everything from towels to
televisions, from can openers to dishwashers.
Even better, give your next purchase some real
thought rather than carelessly laying out your
hard-earned cash: do you really need another
salad bowl, pair of flip-flops or toy for the
cat? With a little effort we can all opt out of
the culture of conspicuous consumption.
An essential point
to remember is that it is far more important to
live in a more environmentally responsible way -
to introduce changes to our everyday habits and
actions - than simply to practice 'green
consumerism' as a salve to our environmental
consciences. However, careful decision making
about where to spend your money can still play a
part in a greener society. Use your purchasing
power to encourage large manufacturers to be
more environmentally responsible and to promote
recycling. When you are making big purchases,
ask manufacturers and suppliers what their
respective environmental policies are, and
whether they use any reusable packaging or have
on-site recycling facilities for staff and
customers.
Transportation and
packaging
When you are doing
your grocery shopping take time to discover
where your food products are from - why buy an
apple that has had to be transported for
thousands of miles when you can buy one that was
grown on a tree much nearer to home? The
transportation of imported goods, with its high
fuel use, adds to pollution and energy waste, as
well as congestion. A lot of food packaging is
made from non-renewable raw materials and all
manufacturing processes cause some level of
pollution. The production of plastic, which is
made using oil, is a major contributor to
environmental pollution. There is also a health
problem associated with plastic food packaging -
a certain amount of toxins can be absorbed by
food in cans and plastic containers.
Rather than
filling a cupboard full with plastic bags that
you do not want to throw away but always forget
to reuse, invest in a couple of good-sized
shopping bags that you actually like and will be
pleased to carry around the next time you go
shopping. Try to use organic cotton hankies
instead of tissue paper, and cloths instead of
paper towels in the kitchen. They might seem
slightly less convenient but once you get into
the habit of using them you will wonder why you
ever spent money on reams of paper towels that
were used up very quickly.
TIPS
Landfill sites
The next time you
throw something away, try to picture what will
happen to it once it leaves your house - this
makes it much harder to dispose of things that
can be reused or recycled. Almost everything we
throw out ends up on a landfill site, which
basically means that it will be dumped in the
ground. All of the organic matter that ends up
on a landfill site rots down and produces
methane gas, which contributes to global
warming. Organic domestic kitchen waste should
ideally be used as compost for your organic
garden and vegetable patch - or even flower
boxes if you are not lucky enough to have a
garden. You could also find out whether there is
a local composting scheme in your area.
The rest of the
rubbish in landfill sites just sits there,
creating patches of polluted land unfit for use.
There is also the added danger that poisonous
chemicals from toxic waste such as batteries can
leach into the water supply. As we begin to run
out of places to dump our rubbish, the
authorities are being forced to look at
alternatives. One of these is incineration. This
is not a very acceptable option to
environmentalists because burning plastics and
other products can release harmful chemicals
into the atmosphere, as well as creating toxic
ash, which itself must be disposed of.
Many unwanted
household items can be donated to second-hand
stores, but remember that it is not good enough
simply to give your old clothes and books to
charity if you do not buy second-hand goods
yourself - it is crucial that there is a market
for recycled goods or the whole cycle would
grind to a halt. People are in the habit of
believing that only brand new things are
desirable, but quite often you find the most
original and interesting items at car boot
(garage) sales and second-hand stores. When you
are shopping, look out for recycled items -there
are increasing numbers of plastic, paper and
glass products available and even some clothing.
Create a recycling
system at home using boxes that can be easily
carried and emptied. Use different containers
for different materials: one for paper, another
for cans and so on. Stackable bins are a good
idea because they take up less space.
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