Ever notice the amount of time we spend on "Recycling Efforts"? Recently the news articles that have come across my screen have shown how much of what we send for recycling can't actually be recycled. Some things they receive have those little recycling looking arrows with a number in them - they only indicate the type of plastic, not that they're actually recyclable. Did not know that before. Dirty things, like leaving left over peanut butter in the jar also can't be recycled - it's recycling contamination. Did not know that either.
Paper products and cardboard are the main source of income for recycling plants - they are the easiest to both recycle and to sell the finished products. They're also the one thing they are getting less and less of - how often do you see a printed newspaper? Packaging uses more and more plastics and less cardboard. Not good for recycling plants.
All of that had me thinking, is "recycling" just a way to feel good about throwing something away? What happened to those first two R words? If we focused on those first two, we would have a much larger impact. If you reduce the amount of stuff you use, there's less stuff to deal with - period. For the stuff you do have, reuse it. Make it last. Use it over and over again. Hand it down to your children and their children. After all of that, there are those things that we will have to dispose of, recycle that. We'll have packaging to deal with for a long time so at least go for paper over plastic when you can.
Training in the martial arts, we have a secret. It's the best defense in the whole world. If you train too, you probably know which one I'm talking about. If you don't train, I'll share it with you. It's simple. It's effective. Anyone can do it. The best defense in the world is "Don't be there". It's our Plan A - if you stay away from trouble, you don't have to deal with it. If you can't avoid trouble though, we do have a Plan B - diffuse the situation. Talk your way out. Distract the other person. Walk away. If those fail we have Plan C - fight.
So what does that have to do with our 3 Rs? Reduce is Plan A. Reuse is Plan B. With Eternum, I focus on those first two. Reduce the amount of stuff you need. In my ideal world a customer doesn't buy the same thing twice - they shouldn't need to. Cherish what you have - it's special. Secondly reuse the stuff you have. It's why I make journal covers instead of leather journals. I want the cover to be used over and over on whichever books you have.
Together we can make Reduce and Reuse great again! (I'm taking those words back)