Reduce Reuse Recycle – Plus 2

Most of us are familiar with the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. In the book, Generation Green, written by Linda Sivertsen & Tosh Sivertsen, they suggest we had two more – RETHINK & REFUSE.

Reduce

Can I get by with less? Less water in the shower, less packaging, less goods. If you purchase less, then Reuse and Recycle become easier.

Reuse

Before you throw something into the recycle box, can you reuse it, in the same or a NEW role? Refill that plastic pop bottle with water a couple of times – then turn it into an automatic watering can for a potted plant.

Recycle

Think beyond the recycle box. By now recycling your  paper, plastic, cans and glass is just second nature. What about your books, magazines, old clothes, CD’s, bike, laptop, other electronics, etc. Try to find a new life for your old items before they hit the blue box. Freecycle.com and other sites, make it easy to connect with someone who could use the items you no longer need.

Rethink

Advertisers spend billions telling you their latest gizmo will make you happy. STOP and THINK it through. Don’t go into “automatic mode” and purchase items you don’t really need. THINK – can your existing cellphone/iPod/Gizmo last you another year? Is this purchase a NEED or just a WANT. Take time to look at why you are making each purchase…. the best things in life truly are free.

Refuse

When you decide NOT to purchase something, but get by without it altogether, you may find new avenues opening. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Our library system is a treasure we all could use more often. Not just for books, but for free Internet access, free movie “rentals”, music CD’s, etc.  

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Filed under: Go Green