Both professional and amateur environmentalists alike speak about the importance of recycling. In 2020, we have all heard the motto “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Even still, we live in a time where human garbage production continues to increase exponentially (idk if it’s exponential, if not, then drastically will work), far beyond amounts that allow for proper “disposal” of waste in communal waste management facilities. Fortunately, we harbor the technology to convert much of our waste into a variety of raw products, extending the lifecycle of materials and ultimately reducing waste in our limited landfills and floating in our vast, beautiful oceans. Doing better for Mother Nature isn’t difficult. It simply requires a small amount of effort by individuals. And while many people believe they are doing their part by simply recycling, it must be stressed that recycling is only one part of the equation to solve the crisis lingering over the sustainability of life on our planet.

First, we must redirect our understanding back to the first two words in the famous motto. Traditionally, practical efforts to embody the principles of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” have been spent on simply recycling every available bit of glass, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and other materials. Concerns for protecting the environment in the late 1960s into the 1970s led to a variety of implementations by the federal government. First, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proposed creating a day of environmental celebration to be called Earth Day. After rallying the support of the American public, approximately 20 million people became involved in America’s inaugural Earth Day, first occurring on April 22, 1970. By December 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created. It is after these reforms that we begin to see the widespread use of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” as a proverbial tool for promoting environmental reform.

Unfortunately, due to the heavy emphasis placed on merely recycling, many do not realize that the process utilizes a great deal of energy to not only sort and prepare different materials, but in the recycling process itself. Products must be heated, melted, and reformed into reusable raw materials, consuming both time and energy. Instead of focusing so heavily on the recycling aspect of the motto, we should, as a global community, begin to shift toward a reduction of what we use and explore different methods for reusing the materials we consume in our everyday lives.

Reducing the amount of our waste is arguably the most important action taken from our famous motto. While the idea of reduction is less convenient than recycling, there is a growing movement of people who practice zero-waste living. Rather than consuming and disposing/recycling waste, zero-waste living promotes a lifestyle where the end goal is a complete reduction in waste. Rather than the normal purchase/consume/dispose model, more thought is placed into the sustainability and longevity of what we use. While moving toward a zero-waste lifestyle can seem daunting, taking small steps to reduce consumption is easy if implemented slowly. A commendable and realistic way to begin is simple: stop purchasing single use items (i.e. water bottles, paper towels, plastic bags, and aluminum foil) or at least take note and make reductions where you can.

From reducing, we move to the concept of repurpose and reuse. Often times, adapting to reuse is a strength that requires a good deal of imagination and vision. Many items that are generally recycled can be reused in different ways, especially if crafting or gardening peaks your interests. In our post “Making Your Own Compost Bin DIY” we discuss the need for greens (organic matter) and browns (dry dead plant matter or cardboard), both of which are byproducts of human consumption. Un-waxed cardboard can be repurposed and used in compost, just remember to remove and dispose of any bits of glue and other inorganic materials. Certain plastic containers which processed food comes in can be reused as storage containers in both the home, garden, garage, and even your workplace.

Even working through the lens of the reduction/reuse model, our best efforts continue to prove that some items only last so long. This is where recycling should then come into play—only after attempts to reduce and reuse the necessary byproducts of our everyday lives have been expended.

We have merely touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tackling environmental injustice through the excellent and widely effective model of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. It must be understood, however, that recycling is only one part of the equation. We must first begin to reduce and reuse what we consume. While this requires a good deal of creativity and ingenuity, it can be both invigorating and exciting to adapt to this model of environmental reform. Keep an open mind, be creative, and think twice about simply buying and disposing of that bottle of water in the garbage or recycling bin. In doing so, you will find your opportunities for saving the environment are endless.