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Summary

The website content advocates for adopting the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' mantra to save money and protect the environment by using examples like beeswax food wraps, rechargeable batteries, and vintage furniture.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of reusing and recycling in everyday life to minimize waste and preserve resources for future generations. It points out that while modern society often opts for new products over repairing, this was not always the case. The text suggests practical alternatives to disposable items, such as DIY beeswax food wraps, reusable water bottles, and reconditioned car batteries, which are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. It also encourages the purchase of recyclable products, including paper and clothing, and supports buying from eco-conscious companies. The article highlights the environmental impact of waste, particularly the pollution caused by non-recyclable materials, and promotes the use of online platforms like TerraCycle for recycling difficult-to-recycle items. By adopting the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' philosophy, individuals can contribute to a more sustainable world and potentially save money.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the current trend of disposability and replacing items instead of repairing them is unsustainable and reminiscent of a time when only the poor had to reuse due to necessity.
  • There is a critique of the modern economy where it is often cheaper to buy a new item, such as a printer, than to repair or refill it.
  • The article suggests that individuals can take control by making or purchasing reusable items, thus reducing their environmental footprint.
  • The author expresses that the responsibility of recycling also lies with manufacturers and consumers, who should be more conscious about the products they buy and the companies they support.
  • The author posits that reusing and recycling can be both economically and environmentally beneficial, advocating for a shift in consumer behavior towards sustainability.
  • The article implies that systemic change, such as the way insurance companies handle car repairs, is necessary to support a culture of reuse and recycling.
  • The author endorses the use of vintage furniture as a stylish and eco-friendly alternative to buying new, emphasizing the unique character and stories that secondhand items bring.
  • The repeated emphasis on the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' mantra throughout the article serves to reinforce its importance as a guiding principle for sustainable living.

Reduce reuse recycle and save money

Photo Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

To be a part of the Earth recovery and preserve for the next generation we have to rethink and try to live more with recycling in our mind.

Most of us already do so and have it in our daily living.

Reusing is one big important issue to limit the huge amount of trash we are producing.

People in rich countries can afford to buy new when things are broken or use plastic bags.

The funny thing is that we lived that reusing way about 100 years ago, but it was mostly the poor who did so. They had no choice. But repairing was more common among all.

That’s what you did. If it was functional, you repaired it.

Now is repairing often at nearly the same price as a new product.

Isn’t that insane.

If the ink in my inkjet printer dries and it doesn’t print well it’s to buy a new one instead of letting someone fix it. Sometimes it is cheaper or at least the same price to buy a new printer rather than buying ink for the printer.

That is also insane.

If you crash your car it is seldom the insurance company pays for the repair of the car, instead, they scrap the car and pay you what it’s worth.

I can line up a lot of examples of insane wear and tear we live after. But most of you know them so it is not a point to do that.

It is better to think, what can we do instead?

Here I have some examples of things we can do, or buy, with reusing thinking. Hope some of you find it as an inspiration to further changes you can do in your life.

To store food in the pantry or the refrigerator you often use plastic bags or plastic film. These beeswax cotton food wraps are reusable and easily done by yourself.

Photo from etee foodwrap

Follow this link and you have a DIY explanation of how to make your food wraps.

If you rather want to buy, you can do it from etee foodwrap.

You can reuse a wrap for at least one year.

Car batteries often stop to recharge and are expensive to buy, instead of buying a new one, and if you are a bit of a handyman or woman. You can follow this link and get some advice on how to make a dead battery like a new one again. It costs some to get the advises but it is cheaper than a new battery and you can reuse the knowledge again and again.

Or even fix dead batteries and sell.

Use a reusable and portable water bottle that is recyclable and environmentally friendly.

Buying water bottles is a popular activity, especially during hot weather. However, because many individuals fail to recycle water bottles properly, many of them wind up in the ocean. One plastic bottle will break down into 10,000 microplastic fragments over time, resulting in a high rate of pollution in our oceans and the general environment — and microplastic contamination is extremely difficult to clean up.

Investing in a water bottle that is not only reusable but also the proper size, so you can take it with you wherever you go, is one answer to this problem.

In the long term, reusing a water bottle saves money.

Here you can find examples of eco-friendly reusable water bottles.

Gifts should be wrapped in recyclable paper.

Because paper is made from a lot of trees, whether it’s toilet paper, standard writing paper, or wrapping paper, it’s crucial to be environmentally conscious and invest in recyclable paper. In 2017, the global cardboard production was estimated to be around 419.69 million metric tonnes. If production does not stop, we are on a dangerous path in terms of paper and cardboard pollution, according to these statistics.

Here you have a lot of examples for recycled paper.

Purchase Recyclable Clothes from Reputable Manufacturers

The negative repercussions of clothing production on the environment are significant. Fast Fashion is mostly to a fault, as these garments are mass-produced in large quantities. These volumes are generated just to be discarded in billions, which can take up to 200 years for certain synthetic fibers to disintegrate (such as polyester).

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These fibers also pose a threat to our biodiversity. Microplastic fibers from these clothing find up in oceans, where they are swallowed by animals. Consumers should be aware of the types of clothes they buy, as well as the materials they are made of, and look for companies who have pledged to reduce their emissions and water pollution associated with garment manufacturing. Sustainable Makers is only one example of many online. Search for Recyclable Clothes at google and you will find a lot of online businesses.

Encourage people to use the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ mantra.

These three well-known waste management techniques will help your home and you’re at your work to become more environmentally friendly. Different containers for different types of products should be set up. Rather than dumping everything out in one container, use recycling bins for paper, plastic, and soft drink cans.

To buy online is not the most environment-friendly way to buy stuff, but it has become a common way to shop nowadays. Thanks to covid. Try to find those who use the most eco-friendly way to ship when you buy online, and you make something better.

TerraCycle is a non-profit organization that recovers hard-to-recycle waste that is not handled by local governments. It offers free nationwide recycling programs and sells zero-waste boxes, which can be filled with the majority of non-hazardous, non-recyclable, and non-organic trash and returned for recycling. Look for a scheme near you on its website, or start one yourself. They are located in many countries around the world.

Purchase vintage furniture.

“It’s so much more fun to reuse furniture than it is to buy new,” says Nicola Harding, founder of interior design firm Harding and Read. “Secondhand products have interesting backstories and force you to look outside the box, resulting in something considerably more distinctive.” Start with your local auction houses and charity shops, then move on to Facebook Marketplace and Freecycle for a targeted trawl.

Use Rechargeable batteries

Batteries contain a range of chemicals, some of which are harmful and can pollute the soil and water. You might want to consider using rechargeable batteries to extend the life of your batteries and keep them out of landfills.

I can keep on writing about stuff you can do to recycle and reuse. This is a start and perhaps do you start thinking of other things where you can use reusable instead of disposable products. And you can save a lot of money too.

And don’t forget the mantra ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’!

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’………

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