Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
What Are The Three R’s?
The three R’s, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, are the three essential components of environmentally friendly waste management. Reduce is the most important of the three R’s, and it refers to the reduction of waste production. This can be accomplished by avoiding the purchase of unnecessary items, using reusable bags, and purchasing items with minimal packaging. Reuse refers to the use of items more than once. This can be accomplished by using reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and shopping bags. Recycling refers to the process of converting waste into new materials. This can be accomplished by separating recyclable materials from non-recyclable materials and placing them in the appropriate recycling bin.
Reduce!
Reducing the amount of waste we produce is an easy step we can help take in order to help our planet. By choosing to reduce first, we save important resources and help prevent pollution entering the environment. If every person on the planet consumed as much resources as the average UK citizen, we would need 2.4 planets to sustain us!
The most important of the three R’s, reducing waste production is accomplished by avoiding the purchase of unnecessary items, using reusable bags, and purchasing items with minimal packaging. Other ways to reduce waste include composting food scraps and yard waste and using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Some examples of reducing waste are:
- Plastics: Use reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups.
- Packaging: Purchase items with minimal packaging such as veg or bulk buy.
- Food/Green Waste: Compost food scraps and place green garden waste in your green bin.
- Batteries: Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
- Toiletries: Use soap bars and reusable razors.
Reuse!
Re-using is the second step in the waste hierarchy and is a great way to cut down on waste, protect the environment and often save money too.
Thinking about what we buy and how we use, and re-use, it is really straightforward and easy to do.
Reusing items more than once is a great way to minimise waste. If you aim to reduce your waste, you will find yourself reusing more and more. In addition to the above, you could:
- Clothing: Donating clothing and household items to charity.
- Gifts: Using old newspapers as wrapping paper.
- Buying: Buying 2nd hand goods reduces waste and the use of virgin materials.
- Food: Instead of throwing leftover food, can you make it into another meal?
- Cosmetics: Using reusable make-up cleansers.
Recycle!
Recycling is an easy way you can help the planet without having to leave home. When we recycle, our waste can be transformed into materials used to make new things.
Recycling is the least favourable of the three and should be only used when waste cannot be avoided. Recycling is the process of converting waste into new materials. This can be accomplished by separating recyclable materials from non-recyclable materials and placing them in the appropriate recycling bin. In Doncaster, we have a Blue Bin for compactable waste and a Green Box for glass. Any waste that can be recycled should be, such as:
- Paper & Card: Paper products and boxes
- Glass: Glass bottles and jars. They shouldn’t be broken though.
- Metal: Aluminium cans and tins.
- Plastic: Bottles and containers.
Did you know? Sometimes we ask you to put waste in your black bin that you might think should be recycled, such as plastic food containers. There is a good reason for why we do this. Your black bin waste is processed into a special kind of fuel that can be used to generate power. In order for this fuel to work properly we need certain ingredients. By following our guidance of what to put in which bin, you help us ensure that as little waste as possible goes to landfill.
RECYCLING SYMBOLS QUIZ
The symbols on packaging can often be confusing! Take our quiz to see if you know what the different symbols mean
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