Reduce Reuse and Recycle

'Reduce, reuse and recycle’ is a phrase that has become a sustainability mantra all over the world.

How can you reduce, reuse and recycle?

Reduce:

Reduce the amount of consumables and resources that you use. This results in less pollution, less energy usage and less waste, and minimises the impact of manufactured materials on the environment. For example, you could reduce the amount of travelling you do by car or opt for fresh foods instead of prepackaged foods.

Reuse:

Reuse as many items as you can, as this keeps them out of the waste stream and reduces the amount of waste that needs to be processed. Reusing manufactured materials and containers is a discipline that was second nature to our parents and grandparents, and is one that we all need to develop again. Making use of reusable shopping bags instead of buying disposable bags every time you shop is one way of reusing. Another way is to repair appliances and upgrade computers instead of replacing them.

Recycle:

Send as much of the waste generated in your home or office for recycling as possible. Recycling is the process of converting used items back into a reusable material and then using this to make new products. Recycling conserves natural resources and reduces the need to put waste into landfills. You can recycle paper, glass and cans, as well as certain kinds of plastic and metal. Specialist recycling facilities deal with items such as computers, ink cartridges and compact fluorescent bulbs.

It’s important to remember that recycling isn’t the same as downcycling. The process of recycling involves reusing a material to produce another product that is the same as the original product. Downcycling involves reusing a material to create a different product that can’t be recycled again. An example of this would be the downcycling of plastic bottle tops to make umbrellas. In the case of downcycling, the material can only be reused once and then stays in the environment indefinitely.