Level One - Reduce
The three top levels of the waste hierarchy are very familiar to most people. It consists of the three R's, 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle'.
Waste Hierarchy is the order of priority of actions to be taken to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to improve overall waste management processes and programs. Lets discuss the first and most desirable option which is REDUCE.
The concept of reducing what is produced and what is consumed is essential to the waste hierarchy and in general the life of the planet itself. This logic is simple to understand; less waste means less to reuse or recycle.
Three simple steps to assessing the reduction value of an item or process - Is there something else that can be used for this purpose? Is this something that needs to be done? Is the item part of something that you need to do, or want to do in your life.
Some things you can do to reduce waste:
1. Print on both sides of the paper to reduce paper waste.
2. Use electronic mail to reach out to people instead of sending paper mail.
3. Remove your name from the mailing lists that you no longer want to receive.
4. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
5. Avoid using disposable plates, spoons, glass, cups and napkins. They add to the problem and result in large amount of waste.
6. Avoid buying items that are over-packaged with foil, paper, and plastic. This excess packaging goes to waste.
7. Buy durable goods that have long warranty. They generally run longer and save landfill space.
8. Buy a water filter / purification system for your house and drink tap water rather than bottled water.
9. Carry a reusable straw with you when you go out rather than using plastic straws.
10. Compost your yard debris rather than sending it to the landfill.
Waste Hierarchy is the order of priority of actions to be taken to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to improve overall waste management processes and programs. Lets discuss the first and most desirable option which is REDUCE.
The concept of reducing what is produced and what is consumed is essential to the waste hierarchy and in general the life of the planet itself. This logic is simple to understand; less waste means less to reuse or recycle.
Three simple steps to assessing the reduction value of an item or process - Is there something else that can be used for this purpose? Is this something that needs to be done? Is the item part of something that you need to do, or want to do in your life.
Some things you can do to reduce waste:
1. Print on both sides of the paper to reduce paper waste.
2. Use electronic mail to reach out to people instead of sending paper mail.
3. Remove your name from the mailing lists that you no longer want to receive.
4. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
5. Avoid using disposable plates, spoons, glass, cups and napkins. They add to the problem and result in large amount of waste.
6. Avoid buying items that are over-packaged with foil, paper, and plastic. This excess packaging goes to waste.
7. Buy durable goods that have long warranty. They generally run longer and save landfill space.
8. Buy a water filter / purification system for your house and drink tap water rather than bottled water.
9. Carry a reusable straw with you when you go out rather than using plastic straws.
10. Compost your yard debris rather than sending it to the landfill.
Level Two - Reuse
Learning to reuse items or re-purpose them for a use different than what they are intended for is essential in waste hierarchy.
You can either reuse items for your own use or donate so that others can use them.
Some Examples of reusing items:
1. Old Jars / Containers - Old jars, plastic containers, etc can be used to store loose items, turned into a piggy bank, etc. Have a bunch of screws, nails, miscellaneous items you have been holding onto, this is a great way to store them.
2. Tires - Old tires can become planters, used to make a tire swing, etc.,
3. Newspaper - Can be used for packing items, tray liners for pet cages,
4. Composting - Build a compost bin and reuse many waste items like used tea bags, banana peels, egg shells and coffee grounds. These waste items degrade and turn into compost that help our plants grow and shine.
5. Donate - Old books can be donated to public libraries or schools. Old cloths can be donated to charity organizations that use them to cloth homeless and less fortunate people.
6. Buy rechargeable batteries that can be used over and over.
Many items that we would typically consider waste can be turned into art projects, used in craft projects or re-purposed to give them new life
You can either reuse items for your own use or donate so that others can use them.
Some Examples of reusing items:
1. Old Jars / Containers - Old jars, plastic containers, etc can be used to store loose items, turned into a piggy bank, etc. Have a bunch of screws, nails, miscellaneous items you have been holding onto, this is a great way to store them.
2. Tires - Old tires can become planters, used to make a tire swing, etc.,
3. Newspaper - Can be used for packing items, tray liners for pet cages,
4. Composting - Build a compost bin and reuse many waste items like used tea bags, banana peels, egg shells and coffee grounds. These waste items degrade and turn into compost that help our plants grow and shine.
5. Donate - Old books can be donated to public libraries or schools. Old cloths can be donated to charity organizations that use them to cloth homeless and less fortunate people.
6. Buy rechargeable batteries that can be used over and over.
Many items that we would typically consider waste can be turned into art projects, used in craft projects or re-purposed to give them new life
Level Three - Recycle
To recycle something means that it will be transformed again into a raw material that can be shaped into a new item. In reality there are very few materials on earth that cannot be recycled however processes for recycling them may not be mainstream or even economically feasible.
Recycling is no different than the normal laws of Supply and Demand. The demand for recyclable materials and the supply of materials that are suitable for the recycling process must be present. The biggest issue facing communities that want to become more involved in recycling efforts is that there needs to be a facility to receive and transform the discarded waste into a raw material. Although the collection and sorting process may be affordable to implement it must be economically feasible for the community in order for any recycling programs to be successful. Ultimately it is us the citizens who have the power to make it or break it.
We must learn and know what products can be recycled, what products are accepted and where they are accepted at, and what condition they need to be in when dropped off.
None of us want to see our hard work in recycling go to waste by having contaminated loads taken to the landfill instead of the sorting centers but it unfortunately is a fact of life. All it takes is one person throwing a dead animal in a bin of plastic recyclables to ruin the whole load.
Things we can do to help the recycling effort:
1. Pay Attention - Only certain items are collected by the city/county for recycling. Just because we want something to be recyclable does not mean that it is. This is called "Wishful recycling" and many times hampers the actual recycling process.
2. Clean your recyclables - Rise out cans, plastic bottles. Do not leave food in them as this contaminates the items.
3. Buy items made from recyclable products, this in turn helps drive the market for recyclable materials.
4. Do not throw household garbage, furniture etc in recycle bins.
5. Come to City Council / County Commission meetings and talk to your representatives about the need for better recycling efforts.
Recycling is no different than the normal laws of Supply and Demand. The demand for recyclable materials and the supply of materials that are suitable for the recycling process must be present. The biggest issue facing communities that want to become more involved in recycling efforts is that there needs to be a facility to receive and transform the discarded waste into a raw material. Although the collection and sorting process may be affordable to implement it must be economically feasible for the community in order for any recycling programs to be successful. Ultimately it is us the citizens who have the power to make it or break it.
We must learn and know what products can be recycled, what products are accepted and where they are accepted at, and what condition they need to be in when dropped off.
None of us want to see our hard work in recycling go to waste by having contaminated loads taken to the landfill instead of the sorting centers but it unfortunately is a fact of life. All it takes is one person throwing a dead animal in a bin of plastic recyclables to ruin the whole load.
Things we can do to help the recycling effort:
1. Pay Attention - Only certain items are collected by the city/county for recycling. Just because we want something to be recyclable does not mean that it is. This is called "Wishful recycling" and many times hampers the actual recycling process.
2. Clean your recyclables - Rise out cans, plastic bottles. Do not leave food in them as this contaminates the items.
3. Buy items made from recyclable products, this in turn helps drive the market for recyclable materials.
4. Do not throw household garbage, furniture etc in recycle bins.
5. Come to City Council / County Commission meetings and talk to your representatives about the need for better recycling efforts.