The original item was published from September 14, 2020 2:24 PM to September 14, 2020 3:03 PM
Have you heard of the saying, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?” It’s sometimes referred to as the "waste reduction hierarchy" or “The Three Rs.” The Three Rs are steps you can take to easily incorporate sustainability into your life. They can help you save a little money too.
Reduce
The first and most important step is to reduce. It means to use less, avoiding the needto create something in the first place.
Here are some tips to help you reduce:
- Only buy what you need
- Select products with less packaging
- Buy in bulk
- Look for items you can reuse
- Choose appliances that are energy efficient and/or use less water
Reuse
The second step in the waste reduction hierarchy is to reuse, or to find another use for something before throwing it away (or even recycling it). Repair or repurpose what’s broken instead of tossing it and buying a new one. There are many creative ideas online.
Recycle
The last step in the hierarchy is recycle. Recycling has become a catch-all for getting rid of waste without sending it to the landfill, but it really means putting your cans, bottles, paper and cardboard into your curbside recycling bin. Recycling is a process through which some everyday items can be turned into feedstock for the manufacturing process.
For everything else, you can recycle it by donating it or taking it to a specialty recycler. Websites like Earth911.com can be very helpful for finding alternative solutions for various products.
Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle to have the greatest environmental impact!
Now we’d like to hear from you! Take this survey and tell us what questions you have about recycling. Maybe we’ll cover it in a future post!