“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is the long-time mantra of wise waste management. They are prioritized as Reduce (create less waste), then Reuse (find new uses for items), and finally Recycle (process materials into new products).
Reducing and Reusing
The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Making a new product emits greenhouse gases and requires a lot of materials & energy, raw materials must be extracted from the earth, and the product must be fabricated then transported to wherever it is sold. As a result, reduction & reuse are the most effective ways to save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money.
You can reduce & reuse by: (1) avoiding single use items in favor of reusable shopping bags, water bottles, coffee cups, and lunch containers; (2) thinking green when you shop, buying only what you really need and choosing quality items that last longer; (3) minimizing packaging, instead buying in bulk or choosing products with eco-friendly packing; (4) buying used items or products made with recycled content; (5) maintaining and repairing products, so they won’t have to be replaced as frequently; (6) repurposing containers, using glass jars for storage or tins as planters; (7) borrowing, renting, or sharing items that are used infrequently, like party decorations, tools, or furniture; (8) reducing your food waste by shopping smart, buying only what you need, composting food scraps, and donating unused food to food banks or shelters; (9) donating or selling unwanted items like clothing, electronics, and building materials to make sure others can reuse them too!
Reducing & reusing lowers greenhouse gas emissions, prevents pollution by cutting the need to harvest new raw materials, saves energy & money, helps sustain the environment for future generations, reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills, and allows products to be used to their full extent.
Learn more about what else you can do at home, at school, at work and in your community!
Recycling
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. It can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment by conserving natural resources (trees, water, minerals) saving energy, cutting greenhouse emissions, and reducing landfill waste. Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused.
The Recycling Process
The recycling process is made up of three steps that are repeated over and over. This creates a continuous loop which is represented by the familiar chasing arrows recycling symbol. The first step is collection and processing. Businesses and consumers generate recyclables that are then collected via curbside collection, drop-off centers, and deposit or refund programs. After collection, recyclables are sent to a recovery facility to be sorted, cleaned, and processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like raw materials would be. Central Ohio is fortunate in having the Rumpke Recycling and Resource Center, one of the country’s newest and largest sorting & processing facilities.
Photo by Lenn Black
After processing, recyclables are made into new products at a recycling plant. More and more of today’s products are being manufactured with recycled content. Recycled materials are also used in new ways such as using recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads and making recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.
Close the Recycling Loop
You help close the recycling loop by buying products made from recycled materials. There are thousands of products that contain recycled content. When you go shopping, look for products that can be easily recycled or that contain recycled content.
Recycled-content products are those manufactured with recycled materials either collected from a recycling program or from waste recovered during the normal manufacturing process. The label will sometimes include how much of the content comes from recycled materials.
Post-consumer content products are similar to recycled content products, but the material comes only from recyclables collected from consumers or businesses through a recycling program.
Recyclable products are those that can be collected, processed, and manufactured into new products after they have been used. These products do not necessarily contain recycled materials. Remember not all kinds of recyclables may be collected in your community, so be sure to check with your local recycling program before you buy.
Challenges to Recycling
While the benefits of recycling are clear, the current system still faces challenges. Many people are confused about what items can be recycled and how. This often leads to recyclables going in the trash or trash going in the recycling bin.
Our society’s recycling infrastructure has not kept pace with today’s waste stream. Communication between the manufacturers of new materials & products and the recycling industry needs to be improved to prepare for & manage the recycling of new materials. Domestic markets for recycled materials need to be strengthened.
For additional information about waste management practices in Central Ohio, visit the website of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio at SWACO.
