Is it best to reduce, reuse, or recycle?

Question

Is it best to reduce, reuse, or recycle?

Answer 1

They're in that order for a reason. It's FAR better to Reduce consumption in the first place. It takes energy to create virtually everything and even if the product is produced without any energy needed, transporting it and all the associated things along the way (like putting it in shops, etc) make that product still have energy associated with it.



Reuse is important in the cases that do work, and much better than throwing it away, whether that's in the regular bin or the recycle bin.



And then recycle. Hopefully this is just a tiny amount after reducing and reusing. What you need to keep in mind is that recycling is best when there's no other option. We should all do it ni those cases. But the actual system of consumption that we've created makes recycling (almost) essential, as virtually all packaging is built for it. This is actually reinforcing our throwaway society, and the recycling that material still uses a lot of energy.

Answer 2

A way of life I was raised with. We avoid buying over packaged products, buy only what we need when we need it and manage our waste. We reuse as much as we can, our goal is what we call a triple whammy which means finding at least 3 times we can reuse something or re-think its purpose. When we demo out for a client's project, we find a new home or re-use for whatever we are taking out so that it doesn't wind up in a landfill. Recycle means if you cannot reuse it recycle it so someone else can re-make it into something else that will be reused by someone else. We also try to purchase products that are already recycled, like our carpeting is made from recycled plastic bottles, many of the items in our home were purchased on the secondary market and refurbished or re-made into something else. We often purchase items from buildings that are being demolished and find treasures that just aren't even made anymore. We run our business and our home with this way of life.

Answer 3

The 3 R's are in order almost everywhere that talks about them.



1. REDUCE most important (if it is not needed and never made/used then you don't need to reuse or recycle and no energy is consumed.



2. REUSE if something is already in existence and you find another use for it that makes you not have to produce something from virgin material or it prevents it from being thrown away (or even recycled which takes energy) then it is important



3. RECYCLE even though it is dead last by far it is urgent that we do this because combining the fact of preventing new production using virgin materials and preventing items from going to landfill is crucial

Answer 4

I have observed that reuse and recycling are in many cases used as an excuse to waste more: from plastic forks, to plastic bags, and all kinds of trashy disposables. The best answer I have is that reuse is way the most important, and it is no wonder it is mentioned first.



Let's remind ourselves and others that care, that:



-- if you are going to wash that plastic fork to reuse it, you may as well wash a reusable one.



--If you are going to recycle that plastic container, you still need to wash it to do so, so you may as well use a reusable one.



--If you are thinking of reusing that plastic bottle, bear in mind some plastic leach toxins, so you are way better off using a safe reusable container instead.



--If you are going to reuse that plastic bag to go shopping, you may as well have a reusable one, to show you are avoiding the waste altogether.



--Remember all that plastic waste is hardly recyclable. A few kinds of plastics can only be downcycled into lower grade junk, which means they will end up as toxic waste in a cycle or two anyways. Most plastics are not even downcyclable.



By all means, recycle, or downcycle as much as possible, but focus on avoiding the trash in the first place.



Reduce your use of things. Just take a moment when you bring things to your life, to consider whether you really need them.



Reuse the things you have, but focus on reusing things that will not pollute after you are done with them, that yo can either compost or truly recycle once they are no longer usable.



And Recycle.

Answer 5

It really depends on the product in question. A lot of things cannot be reused, many, many things cannot be recycled, but we can all do with a little less. So I have to say that the reduction in use of consumer products is the best option.

Answer 6

By reusing you are already reducing. Then recycle when finished. So I would say reusing would be the best solution.

Answer 7

It is best to do all three.Almost everything is recycled these days.cut back on what you do not really need. find secondary things that you can do with the used packaging.(butter containers for storage) etc.If you have kids you can find different things to make with all this stuff.Recycle all that you can.Recycling is always more helpful to all of us and our kids.

More on reuse: you can cut 1 gallon milk containers in 1/2 and use them for planters. decorate them with your kids.put a couple holes in the bottom for drainage and now you have an original and unique planter.what is leftover you recycle.

Go to ask.com. Great sight with lots of ideas.

Answer 8

prevention is better than cure,so reduce is first chioce,when spernding not take place u are saving some amount so re use comes under that catogarey,nothing is waste in this world recycle comes under that tottaly the three are like water food o2 for the man .every one should follow this like as theire national anthom.good luck from positve raj saravanan

Answer 9

They are each equally important. Any two are pointless in absence of the other one. They rely on one another's unique purposes to make their own worthwhile and efficient. It is really best to view it as one action with three different steps. When it is approached as three separate actions that have nothing to do with one another then they can actually become quite wasteful.

Answer 10

Start with Reduce and you will have less need to do either of the others.

Answer 11

follow the three r's of environmentalism.





1. reduce

2.reuse

3.recycle



by reducing, you use less of something to begin with. if u can reuse it and then reycle it, you have completed the circle=)



hope this helpss!