10 R’s That Should Come Before Recycling
The New "Rs" of Sustainability
Why Choosing REUSABLES and REDUCING Single-Use and Consumption Should be the Consumer's Choice
As we enter "America Recycles Day" on November 15, that "recycling" buzzword will be at the front of minds and on the tips of tongues in every corner of the country. It's only natural; after all, our culture gets trained on the importance of recycling through school, media, culture, government, and dozens of other outlets over decades. However, is it the best choice out there?
Spoiler alert: the facts and the figures point to no.
In fact, there are better alternatives out there to recycling out there. Recycling should be the last resort of waste - and there are several other "R" words that should come before recycling to help ensure a greener earth. Let's start with this statistic, which illustrates the perception vs. reality when it comes to recycling. As of 2015, approximately 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic had been produced, of which 6.3 billion tons became plastic waste. What would you guess gets recycled?
If you said only 9%, you'd be right. That's right. It's only 9% of all plastic waste ever generated that’s been recycled. What does that tell us? Well, it means that recycling does help, but the real key to helping build a greener earth is the reduction of waste, not the recycling of it.
Intrigued? Let's dive into the issue here.
The Problems With Recycling
As we absorbed in different visits and experiences with both Broward County and Palm Beach here in Florida, the public perception of recycling actually helps to further some of the problems its meant to combat. "Unfortunately, recycling doesn't encourage people to reduce their waste," Cat Uden, a local ocean activist, stated. "It does the opposite - it fuels consumption."
"Unfortunately, recycling doesn't encourage people to reduce their waste," Cat Uden, Oceana organizer, stated. "It does the opposite - it fuels consumption."
As we learned in our visits and tours recently, there are 10 Rs that people should think about BEFORE recycling. They are:
REDUCE
The most important step you can do in the process is to cut down on the amount of materials you use on a daily basis. This is the overall, overarching, and much better alternative to recycling.
REUSE
Think of creative ways to reuse those products that you might otherwise throw away at some point in the day. Use your brains - you can think of some very cool ideas!
REFUSE
"Just say no" doesn't just have to apply to the war on drugs. The "refuse" part comes in when you refuse to use all of those wasteful products (computer printouts, for example) that you use regularly. Sit down and think about your usage - what can you say no to?
REFILL
Don't just toss away that empty water bottle into the recycling bin. Go ahead and fill it back up with something else you might consume later! Refilling containers instead of throwing them away is a key alternative to recycling.
REPAIR
Is something broken that can get fixed? Work on it and get it back in working condition before it goes into the recycling bin! You'll get the pride that comes along with fixing something alongside helping to save the planet.
REPURPOSE
Have something recyclable that may have a second life in some other fashion? Consider alternatives before you recycle anything!
REGIFT
Before anything goes into recycling, stop and think, "Wait, is there someone else in my life that might need this?"
RETHINK
This encompasses everything. Stop and take in your entire aspect of the recycling process. Rethink your complete approach to the system. Are you doing all you can? What can you do better?
RECOVER
BYour recyclable materials may be able to get used to fuel something else!
RESTORE
Finally, one of the critical efforts - try to bring back materials that are on the verge of getting recycled and use them productively
A comprehensive approach that took in all of these 10 Rs before recycling would help to change people's overall habits - and change the world for the better.
"We can’t recycle our way out of this." - Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr
How are you going to contribute? Pirani Life Is. Let us know in the comments!
Click HERE to watch a short video on our day at Solid Waste Authority in West Palm Beach
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