The R’s of Sustainability

Everyone has heard the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” but did you know there are many additional “R’s” that can be useful before choosing that last resort option to recycle.  This is especially true for plastic.  Plastic recycling is a myth, so opting for that last resort is basically putting the item in the bin and crossing your fingers that it will be part of the 5% that actually gets recycled and not the other 95% that is landfilled, incinerated or destined for the environment.

What better way to start the New Year than resolving to incorporate a few new “R's” to minimize your impact on the planet!

Refuse – The first line of defense against all waste is to simply refuse anything you do not need and will not use.  Refuse any and all single-use plastics.  Refuse free handouts like pens and keychains, flyers and pamphlets, and business cards.  Refuse to buy the latest model just because it is faster or brighter.

Reduce – Reduce the amount of unnecessary “stuff” you bring into your home.  Ask yourself if you really need it.  Try using less of a product to make it last longer.  Reduce the items you already have in your home by selling or donating those you do not use.  Simplify.

Reuse – Purchasing items that you can reuse avoids a mountain of single-use products and unnecessary waste.  Rely on reusable cloth shopping bags, water bottles, plates, utensils and food storage containers.  Where did we ever get the idea that it was okay to use something once and then throw it away?

Repurpose – Before getting rid of anything, think hard about how else it could possibly be used.  If you are certain it is something you no longer need, perhaps a friend or a neighbor could give it a second life.  And when you decide to purchase an item, first ask yourself what you already have that might meet the need.

Replace – Instead of continuing to bring single-use items into your home, why not invest in sustainable alternatives that will last forever.  They may cost a bit more initially, but you will avoid having to make regular additional purchases of these items.  You might also try replacing store-bought cleaning supplies and personal care products with ones you make yourself.  The Internet is filled with easy recipes or you can check out some Viroqua Plastic Free favorites at https://www.viroquaplasticfree.org/post/break-up-with-plastic-have-we-got-some-new-life-partners-for-you.

Repair – Remember when there were repair shops for everything from small appliances to shoes?  Instead of automatically heading to the store when something breaks, repair it.  Nowadays there are YouTube repair videos so you can do it yourself if you are the least bit handy.  If it isn’t something you can repair yourself, bring it to the talented folks at the next Fix-It Folks event in your area.  Check out their Facebook page for the dates and locations.

Rot – With just a little bit of attention, organic resources such as food scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, twigs and grass clippings will naturally decompose into compost – black gold that will provide beneficial nutrients for your plants and vegetables.  It may surprise you to learn that natural materials do not decompose in the oxygen-free landfill environment.  Instead, they produce methane – a greenhouse gas. If you are new to composting, check out this VPF blog - https://www.viroquaplasticfree.org/post/secrets-of-a-lifelong-composter.

Rethink – It is only in the last seventy years that the consumer behavior of using materials once and then throwing them away has become commonplace.  The environment would benefit from a return to the values of generations past whose motto was “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”  Avoid creating waste.

Recycling – Plastic gets the blame for recycling placing last.  Many items like metal, glass, paper and cardboard can be easily and effectively recycled.  This isn’t true of plastic.  Of all the plastic ever produced, a very small percentage has been recycled.  Most of that has been downcycled into a product (like a park bench or a fleece blanket) that is no longer recyclable.  Effective plastic recycling is a myth that continues to be perpetuated by the plastic manufacturers.

By resolving to follow the first eight “R’s” in 2026, you will likely discover that there is very little left to be discarded or recycled.  And that will be a very good thing.