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“Reduce, reuse, recycle" is the go-to phrase when we talk about waste reduction. But there's a lot more to consider.
Our colleagues at Recycle Smart recently shared this revamped list of Rs: “Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle.” An article in the organization's September newsletter discusses prioritizing the higher-up Rs to achieve the greatest impact. Reframing the waste hierarchy in this way reminds us we have options when it comes to waste reduction.
Rethink
We can start by rethinking our habits. Can we fix or repurpose something? Buy in bulk? Replace single-use items like water bottles with reusables? Purchase secondhand? Let's be creative!
About 30% of the state’s trash is currently landfilled, and our landfills are set to reach capacity by 2030.
Refuse
When we refuse new items, we avoid having to make decisions about what to do with them when we’re done.
Reduce
Consider whether you really need something before you buy it. Other strategies include buying in bulk to avoid single-serving packages, meal planning to avoid buying food you won’t eat, and donating gently used items to give them a second or third life.
Reuse
Reuse on a large scale is happening through furniture banks, secondhand stores, gifting groups like Buy Nothing and Freecycle, mattress resale, tool lending libraries, little free libraries, swap shops, and reusable take-out containers! Check Beyond the Bin to find donation outlets for items that can be reused.
Repair
You can find how-to repair guides and video tutorials online. If DIY isn't for you, a repair shop will happily fix your broken refrigerator, laptop, or sewing machine, so look around before replacing! Salem residents are lucky to have volunteers who will repair items FOR FREE at the city's Repair Cafe. See our article in this newsletter for details!
Rot
Rot is the R word for composting. See our article in this newsletter for information on how to get started.
22% of our trash is uneaten food and scraps.
Recycle
Recycling keeps valuable material out of the trash and conserves resources, making it possible to process used materials into new products. It's the last best option before incineration or landfilling.
Read the full article from Recycle Smart here.
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