Do u think its time to focus on Reducing and Reusing?

Question

Everyone knows how to recycle and how easy it is to put thing in the right bucket at the end of the week but, although it does a lot of good, it isn't a solution.

Now we've all been educated about recycling should we not now focus on getting people to REDUCE the amount of packagain/cans etc we use and purchase and RE-USING wherever possible?

I've been doing all three for a long time, I mean on a national scale, educating people, posters etc.

Its amazing the number of people I speak to that think recycling is the first and last thing they have to do.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. Recycling is necessary, but saving resources is also a pre-determinant factor to achieve sustainability. We waste too much resources. Using the air conditioner instead or simply opening a window or using lighter clothes, throwing good food away, etc. One has to be aware of how a good is produced, how much energy it consumes in the process, if it uses renewable materials. For example, a house entirely built using sawnwood demands a lot less energy than one using steel, concrete and bricks, that are also non-renewable materials. Of course that the timber must be come from sustainably managed forests. Well, the answer is education, that will produce awareness if well applied. Information must be spread out. We must press our governments to environmentally educate people, and also to create mechanisms to make environmental and social sustainable initiatives also economically attractive to investors. But the main engine of this process will be environmentally educated individuals. I plant trees for my own sake! If everyone would do that, the planet would be a lot better.

Answer 2

Where have you been? People have been doing this for years. Many companies have already reduced packaging for their products...this was a huge issue 10 or 15 years ago. Maybe some people need to be reminded of these things....but three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) have been a mantra of the environmental movement for 20 years or more.

Answer 3

You cannot confine yourself only to reusing or to reducing. There are remnants which help in reusing them without much damage to nature and hence reusing may help in these areas. There are waste materials which are injurious to environment because while reusing or recycling there are dangers. Hence these have to be weighed before decided on a particular material either to reuse or to reduce. Of course, the left over reserves on earth also will be a factor.
VR

Answer 4

Yes, you are right...we should be focusing on reducing and reusing. The challenge is, as I am sure you know, that people don't want to do anything that will sacrifice them getting the best new technology, the newest clothes, etc. We are such a commercial society and I don't expect that this will change until civilization comes to a breaking point and we are FORCED to reduce and reuse...

Answer 5

Absolutely. Go to a supermarket. The food (especially meat) comes wrapped in plastic, which they will try to put in another plastic bag, before it goes in to a carrier bag. Why?

We should be looking at reducing energy consumption where ever we can. Open a window instead of aircon, or just get used to the heat. Put on a jumper instead of turning up the heating. Turn things off when they are not needed. Walk instead of drive, if you can. It all helps.

Answer 6

for reuse: use a pop bottle as a water bottle donate your old stuff to a cost village so some you will reuse it. for recycle you may recylce paper alluminium plastic and glass in a blue container.you additionally can recycle cellular telephones and ink cartriages from printers. ruduce??? experience your motorbike

Answer 7

yeah that sounds logical. reducing was pounded into my head growing so i think re-using should come first. most people have a real bad habit of just throwing perfectly good things away way they can use them again or even sell them or give them away for someone else to use.

Answer 8

We can help by not buying or promoting disposable products and finding uses for discardables. I'm writing a book about how to make things out of garbage. That's my contribution.

Answer 9

of course it is..I mean we should hav started doing this long ago. we should stick to all of the 3 Rs not just one so..reduce,reuse,recycle!

Answer 10

yup