R3

What is reduce, reuse and recycle?

—The key to be green and an environmentally responsible person is reducing, reusing and recycling (R3), so it is necessary to learn what’s the real meaning of this concepts and always use them in this order.

The first R (reduces): it means that in first place we should limit the number of purchases that we make in our home, so we should try to stop using unnecessary things that creates more garbage. For example, we could have just one computer in our houses.

The second R (reuse): it means that we should reuse items as much as possible before replacing them. If we have things that still working why are we going to change it for a new one? For example, it better to update our computer rather than buy a new one because we are reusing our computers, helping the environment and also saving money at the same time. However, if we do replace our computer, we should ensure that it, or its components, are reused; it is possible because many charitable organizations welcome donations of second-hand computers.

The third R (recycle): it means that we should ensure that the items we stop using or their components are put to some new purpose as much as possible. For example if we really need to replace our computer, we can donate the old one to several organizations, which will refurbish it or recycle its components.

Sometimes people use a fourth R that can be either rethink or recover. Rethink means that we should consider all the options we have and think about the impact it will have on the environment. Recover means that we can use waste produce for something else. For example, decomposing garbage produces methane gas, which some landfill sites recover and burn for energy rather than letting it dissipate.

As we can see all this actions are very easy to do and it only depends in ourselves to really help the environment in the best way we can do it. So what are you waiting? Start using the R3 right now!

posted by: Shelley Suddy