3R: reduce, reuse and recycle

The first of the three erres: reduceperhaps collects the most obvious part of the theory, if we reduce our consumption, both energy and material goods, we are also reducing the problem. In this way, the purpose is to reduce the expense of raw materials, water and consumer goods, as well as the contribution of CO2 to the atmosphere and energy consumption (both destined to create a product and its transport and distribution).

On a practical level, the advice and examples of reducing are simple:

• Buy less and apply certain criteria when choosing what we buy.
• Check the place of origin and give priority to products that have been made closer to us
• Choose products whose packaging or wrapping process is not excessive or manufactured with materials that can be more easily recycled
• Replace plastic bags of the purchase by bags of reusable materials that can be used on future occasions
• Finally, discard or reduce as far as possible the use of plastics.

Next, the habit of reuse It encourages us to try extend the useful life of a productthat is, before throwing it and replace it with a new one, we must look for a way to repair it or, if not possible, give it another use before the end of your life.

Fortunately, the network is full of ideas, some very creative, oriented to change the mentality of “use and throw”ideas that also do not help the environment only, but also our pocket. For example, in the following articles of Ecologiaverde we explain how to make musical instruments from recycled materials or give you incredible ideas to recycle bottle plugs.

Reuse does not simply concern manufactured products, since it can, and should also apply to Natural resources. For example, the water we use to wash vegetables and fruits or water that we have left after drinking, can be used to water the plants or even scrub the soil.

In the same way, taking another step and putting more means, the waters from the drains of washing machines, bathtubs or mop, would be, after the application of a simple treatment, perfect for irrigation of green areas or the use in tanks, as well as for exterior cleaning.

The last R, the recyclingis the best known of the three. In fact, many people know them as the 3 r of recycling, although it is a mistake since this is only one of them. Recycling is based on treating waste in order to get new productspreserve potentially useful materials and thus avoid the environmental damage that its elimination (gases and other toxic substances) entails. The practice of recycling has multiple aspects and its application covers from simple domestic habits to complex international regulations.

At the individual level, it is in our hand Select and separate waste That we generate at home, that is, use the already well -known yellow, green, blue and gray containers to deposit metals and plastics, paper, cardboard and derivatives, glass, containers and organic waste.

Many times to recycle well enough to have garbage cubes that allow us to separate The materials and garbage in a simple but ordered way, so we recommend two models:

• Joseph Joseph separatora perfect cube with waste separation that makes the task of recycling very easily.
• Cheaper alternative is from the brand Songmics which consists of a stainless steel junk cube with three compartments.

In recent years, thanks to awareness campaigns, workshops, distribution of explanatory material and adaptation of infrastructure, both in urban and rural areas, the segregation of garbage at domestic level has become an easy practice to carry out and we all know the importance of our participation in this first and essential phase of the process.

You can learn more about this concept in this other ecology article about the definition of recycling.

Once the waste is segregated, different local and national entities They work together through transfer, classification and waste transfer plants to optimize energy consumption and preserve natural resources.

Recycling works in chain And therefore, the simple fact of throwing our garbage in one container or another is basic to enjoy the energy benefits obtained in the glass recycling process and even make us smile by knowing that the reuse of a ton of paper saves the life of 17 trees.

In short, Reduce, reuse and recycle are 3R and three simple actionsas easy as necessary. Sustainable life habits and their generalized practice are not only our responsibility as inhabitants of the planet, or our contribution to alleviate the damage we cause; Also, and above all, they are the only way we have to preserve, and therefore enjoy our environment.

Therefore, perhaps it is time to take the next step in the change of mentality And learn to see that when we carry out the “3R” it is not we who give, what we do is receive.

As has been published recently, in our country, the total production of urban waste It is around 25 million tonsa figure that is equivalent to approximately 464 kilos per year per inhabitant, and of which only 27%is recycled or used for composting, which places us 15 points below the European average.

From the environmental point of view, and as many organizations have been claiming, these data are alarming and their medium -term sustainability is practically impossible. Thus, the social implementation of the habits of Reduction, reuse and recyclingaccompanied by a change of drastic and generalized mentality, is raised as the only possible way for a considerable decrease in the aforementioned figures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkm_fpzo7g

Ecology advances day by day and, currently, a new movement has emerged than the 3R rule of ecology. This new method to help the environment is known as 7R: redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, renew, recover and recycle.

Some steps resemble the 3R pre -existing although they have their differences and are equally important to take care of the planet. On the other hand, other steps have been included to take into account that this process must be done throughout the life of a product: from the extraction of the raw material, the design and manufacture of the product to the use of this, its reuse and recycled.

Here you can learn more about 7R: redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, renew, recover and recycle.

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