The Three R's

The past couple of days have been spent putting together my class on recycling for the sustainable living class. We talked about the typical conversation which is what can go in the recycling bin. The rest of the class we spent talking about ways we can do the other two R's of recycling: reduce and reuse. If practiced well, they can cut down on not only trash but what needs to be recycled at the curb.

Reducing is also called precycling. It is looking at the packaging at the store and making conscious decisions about buying things based on the amount of packaging. One of the most frequent suggestions in this category is buying in bulk. Another one not covered often is asking beforehand, "Do I really need this object or is there something I can use at home?". "Is this something that is made so cheaply it will break quickly?" "Is this something that I will use a lot at first because it is a novelty and then it will end up on my shelf?". Not only do these questions help with precycling but they also help with the budget and help curb impulse shopping.

I would encourage you to ask these questions next time before you reach for that impulse item that is on clearance or at the dollar store.