Many household and clothing items are likely to be discarded or thrown away due to the disposable nature of so much of manufacturing in modern daily living. Many of the unwanted items go to landfills. Their life cycles continue in the guise of adding to the harmful emissions of greenhouse gases, polluting oceans and threatening the ecosystem.
We can help to change the cycle by implementing the 5 Rs.
1 refuse
Say no! Refuse the things you don’t need. Don't buy products that aren't friendly to the the environment. Say no to plastic grocery bags, single-use plastics in the forms of disposable products - coffee cups, utensils, straws, cutlery.
2 reuse
Reusing and repairing go together. Before throwing something away and buying a new one, it's worth checking to see if you can find a way to reuse or repair an item. Reusing can also mean selling or donating items for someone else to use. Try charity shops and antique stores for items you're looking to buy.
3 reduce
We often buy on impulse. Ask yourself: do I really need this? If you do need an item, look for the best quality and least impactful on the environment before you purchase. Well-made items will last longer, meaning you will buy them less frequently.
4 repurpose
Everyone has creative talents they may not yet have explored. Repurposing items, or 'upcycling' them, is an excellent way to turn an item into something for an entirely different use. Try Pinterest for ideas on repurposing household and clothing items.
5 recycle
Recycling is the easiest way to reduce waste that would be headed for landfill. Look into recycling in your area - what facilities there are for recycling plastics, clothing, wood etc, can vary across the country.
