We live in a world that produces too much trash. It’s estimated that we produce over 100 million tons of garbage every year. This means that there is always something new for us to learn about how to manage our waste better. One great way for us to make a difference is to learn more about how to reuse, reduce and recycle.
Let us take you through the basics.
Understanding The Three R’s of Waste Management
Reuse – Don’t throw away anything that could be reused
One of the important principles of a circular economy is to keep materials in use. Even more important is to keep objects in use as they were originally designed. This means that if you have an item of clothing or a piece of furniture, the best thing is for this item to continue to be used for the reason it was made. The longer, the better.
So when you want to replace a piece of furniture or an item of clothing, ask yourself, Does it really need to be replaced. Can I keep using it for longer? If not, ask yourself, Can someone else use this object as intended? If so, then consider selling or donating it to charity. You can also donate used books, toys, furniture, appliances, and other items to local charities.
Reduce – Do less with less
One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is by using less. This means buying fewer things, eating less food, and doing less laundry. Reducing your consumption means making conscious decisions about what you purchase and how much you spend. It’s not easy to cut back on spending, especially when we feel like we need something new. However, by reducing our purchases, we can help the environment and save money at the same time.
Think about what you use and how you use it. Do you really need to buy that extra pair of shoes? Could you make do with just one pair?
Recycle – Turn waste into something useful.
Recycling right helps keep materials in use once they are no longer needed in their original form. It’s easy to learn how to recycle. Here are some articles to help get you started.
You can support recycling and the circular economy by buying recycled products. Take a look at our Brand Directory to find fantastic products using recycled content.
