3 Rs
From Envirowiki
The three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle are basic tenets of consumer sustainability. They are in order from the most effective - reduce - to the least - recycle.
Contents |
[edit] Reduce
Reduction of consumption, be it of energy, material goods, or food, is the best way to reduce waste.
- Turning off electrical circuits you don't need instantly reduces demand on nuclear power or fossil fuel power generation, reducing the amount of atmospheric pollution and nuclear waste.
- Buying less material goods means you have less things you need to throw away. Only buy the things you need
- Eat all your food - try not to let any usable food go to waste. This could reduce the need for high-impact farming, and/or decreases food prices in the third world through increased supply.
[edit] Reuse
Don't thow your waste away, reuse it!
- Many types of food packaging can be re-used. bottle, jars, bags, etc.
- Orgranic food wastes can be composted, and used to grow more food, reducing further your need to buy food.
- Don't throw away thing you don't want any more, give them away. Somewhere, there is always someone who could use what you don't want.
- Dirty water? Use it on the garden. Install a grey water system. Also reduces your need to use tap water or drinking water for the garden.
[edit] Recycle
Recycling cuts down on the need to mine or harvest new resources, but it still requires transport and energy consumption for the actual recycling process, which is why it's third on the list.
- Nearly everything can be recycled. Some stuff you can recycle yourself - old tyres make great worm farms, packaging like cardboard can be used to make toys, models, or art.
- Most plastics, metals, paper, and glass can be recycled professionally, and re-made into new packaging and product. This process can, however, be highly energy intensive. Recycled products are much more environmentally friendly, but better options exist - for example bottle return schemes.
[edit] The 5 Rs
Now and then people come up with a couple of extra Rs to tack on to the end of the first three. Some of these are great, sometimes they're cop outs. Do an internet search for "the 5 Rs" and see what you find. Here are a couple
- the cirle of life foundation's five Rs: Respect, Rethink...
- ... Repair, Restore
- Refuse, Resist ...
