[- Reduce and Reuse -]

One strategy often used to minimalize the production of waste is to reduce before it is even produced. Large quantities of municipal waste are generated from consumer product packaging. Often packaging is designed to be used once and then thrown away.

Reusing the containers used to hold goods can also reduce the production of wastes. In many states and provinces, deposits are charged for containers used to hold beverages. Consumers purchasing these products can get their deposits back by returning the empty containers after the product has been consumed. These containers are then refilled by the manufacturer with beverages and placed on sale again. On average, glass containers can be refilled 10 to 15 times before they are discarded or recycled.

Someways we perhaps suggest in using is to only buy what you need! This is probably the hardest part for many of us. It is a total change in the American way of thinking. We don’t really need all of those things. Million dollar marketing campaigns tell us what we need. Take it back – you decide what you really need. I think we would all be quite surprised with what we could live without. It’s hard but it’s a process that we all need to undertake.

Don’t just throw it away. Most items have more than one use if we think about it. And remember the old adage, "One mans garbage is another mans treasure." Maybe your neighbor could use it.And if you really don’t feel like you can reuse it, then at least salvage what you can from the item.

Recycling can be defined as the use of a resource over and over in a modified form. Common types of solid waste that can be recycled include glass, metals, paper, and plastics.Recycling paper has some limitations. Paper cannot be used repeatedly because the fibers eventually degrade and become useless. Most types of paper fibers can be recycled no more than six to eight times. Also, using paper for many tasks requires that the paper have certain levels of quality. Using recycled fibers reduces the quality of the paper. As a result, many recycled papers contain only small percentages of reused fibers.

Recycling is also known as a "Last Resort" to many of us.If you can’t reduce your need or reuse the item, then please recycle it. Obviously this means that in order to recycle an item it has to be made from materials that are recyclable. And if you buy items that are made from recycled materials you will help to "close the loop"(3R)It really is pretty simple. We just have to do it.