Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
When we think ofreducing,we’re talking about reducing our output of waste. That could
also mean cutting down on use of natural resources. Reusing and recycling are other ways
we can cut down on use of resources.
Minimizing of waste may be difficult to achieve for individuals and households, but here are
some starting points that you can include in your daily routine:
- When you go shopping for items, buy quantities you know you will use without waste;
sometimes buying larger may be a better deal, cost-wise, but make sure you will really
finish what you buy - To minimize usage of electricity, turn lights off when not using and replace burned out
bulbs with ones that are more ecologically efficient - Reduce water use by turning off faucets when not using water; use low-flow shower
heads, which save on water and use less energy, since less water is being heated; use
low-flush and composting toilets - Purchase water-efficient crops, which require little or no irrigation
- Put kitchen and garden waste into a compost pile
- In the summer, change filters on your air conditioner and keep your thermostat at a
temperature as warm as you can tolerate; in winter, make sure your furnace is working
properly, keep the temperature as cold as you can tolerate, and make sure there is
enough insulation on windows and doors - Mend broken or worn items, when feasible
- Walk or bicycle to destinations, when possible, rather than using an automobile, in
order to save on fuel costs and to cut down on emissions - When buying a new vehicle, check into hybrid and semi-hybrid brands (many new ones
are coming rapidly onto the market) to cut down on gas mileage - Consider which makes more sense – to spend valuable gas to go further to recycle, for
example, or to sometimes use the trash instead of recycling
Let’s now look at what we canreuse. Reusing includes using the same item again for the
samefunctionandalsousinganitemagainforanewfunction. Reusecanhavebotheconomic
and environmental benefits. New packaging regulations are helping society to move towards
these goals.
Some ways of reusing resources (think about ways these might be incorporated into your
home) include:
- Use of gray water – water which has been used for laundry or washing, for example,
can be used to water the garden or flush toilets * At the town level, sewage water can
be used for fountains, watering public parks or golf courses, fire fighting, and irrigating
crops that will be peeled or boiled before use