More R's

The many many many many R's

Many of you are fully aware that Dave & I are enthusiastic influencers for creating positive change starting right where you are - with what you can do today. 

We've written more than a thousand articles, done hundreds of interviews & written a book series on the topic. Over the decades we've  focused on the first 3 R's: Recycling & Repurpose or Rot (compost). While these are highly effective techniques of turning waste into a resource, there are a lot more than 3 R's in living a positive, proactive lifestyle. 

Reconsider how powerful the individual consumer is: 

- Refuse to accept manufacturer standards, products or companies that do not  align with your beliefs.

- Reach out to companies to let them know what you like or do not like about their policies. Celebrating positive efforts is much more effective, however, than complaining.

- With Reuse in the consumer mindset, & ways of extending the life of the product or its packaging, we can choose the companies that meet these ideals. 

- Repurpose comes in when we find ways to use the product's container or packaging instead of throwing it out. 

i.e. Turn a clean plastic jug into a scoop for dog food, for potting up plants, or spreading garden amendments.

- Responsible mindset... At home we can investigate if others might benefit from our waste. For instance, we might clip buttons and zippers from worn-out clothes - saving them in a clean container (i.e. a clear peanut butter container). Once those jars are full enough, we can then donate them to a thrift store, seamstress, or reuse centre for others to benefit from. 

Go a step farther and before throwing something away, remove the  hardware like hinges and screws, pot lit handles etc. Store these in clean plastic jars (I prefer clear ones) so that you can use them for something else. If you don't end up using them, you can always pass them along to a crafter, wood worker, construction person or thrift store. 

- Rent is yet another R that offers a financial incentive. If I can rent a machine instead of owning it, maintaining & storing it - I can save a lot of money, time & space. 

- Research food and product labels will make it easier to find locally produced items. We can reduce both fossil fuel and packaging involved in the menu plan by avoiding items that were shipped, stored, warehoused, boxed & repackaged time and time again. 

- Let's not forget Return:

End of Life collection & Return systems exist in nearly every community. We can also find manufactures that offer Take Back programs. Returns are your bottles, cans and such, where you are paid a small amount to take them in to the depot. Alternatively you can donate them to a cause. End of Life collection of ink cartilages, crayons, felt pens, toothbrushes, light bulbs, electronics. Take Back programs involve things like car batteries, or refill bottles. 

There are, in fact, more R's... but these are just a few to get those new habits flowing. :)

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