The 5 R’s – The key factors to remember regarding waste management are: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Replace.
1. Reduce: whenever possible, reduce the production of waste. You can always reduce the production of waste by following these simple guidelines:
A. Use or buy only what is needed: When no waste is generated, then there is no waste to deal with. Make a shopping list before you go shopping. This will ensure that you do not buy things that are not necessary. Don’t give in to temptation by buying random items.
b. Buy items that can be reused like rechargeable batteries. This will create much less waste as they can be reused more than once.
against Unsubscribe from print mailings and opt for emails instead.
d. Buy products with minimal packaging. Flashy and fun packaging does not necessarily mean better product quality.
my. Say NO to plastic bags. Bring your own reusable shopping bags.
F. Spread the word about reducing waste at the source: more people embracing waste reduction means less waste generated.
2. Reuse: If waste is produced, explore the feasibility of reusing the waste. Don’t throw away items that are reusable. Reduce waste by making full use of any item. Here are some helpful ideas on how to repurpose those everyday bits and pieces.
A. Reuse old clothing by sewing items such as cloth bags, cushion covers, table/sofa covers, etc. Those that cannot be reused as such can be used as a waste rag for cleaning.
b. Reuse old tires in the garden as swings or as pots to grow small plants.
vs Reuse glass bottles and jars as storage containers after cleaning and drying.
d. Reuse envelopes with self-adhesive address labels.
my. Reuse plastic bags as garbage bags.
3. Recycle – If reuse is not feasible, explore the option below to recycle waste. Since there are economic and environmental costs associated with waste collection and recycling, it should only be considered where waste reduction and reuse is not practicable or feasible. Most household and workplace items can be effectively recycled with little effort. Here are some tips for embracing recycling:
A. Keep recyclable trash containers in strategic locations at home/workplace. This will encourage better participation in the recycling process by everyone.
b. Don’t throw something away just because it’s old or broken. Repair it and reuse it to use it again.
against Recycle food waste by composting using compost bins.
4. Recover: It may be possible to recover materials or energy from waste that cannot be reduced, reused, or recycled. For example, Sweden has been successfully generating biogas and fuel oil from waste and garbage.
5. Replace: adopting green goods or lifestyles, such as wearing bandanas instead of bandanas, riding public transportation instead of private cars, walking or biking for short travel distances, adopting carpooling for long trips long distance instead of self-driving etc.
Habit is a powerful tool in our daily lives. Most of the things we do in our daily lives are a matter of habit. Buying unwanted items, using tissues instead of cloth tissues/napkins are clothes that have become ingrained in us. The trick is to change these clothes for environmentally friendly clothes, a challenging task for anyone, but necessary for a better world. In other words, the 5 R’s should be practiced as a rule and not as an exception.
