Why Is It Important to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle?


Quick Answer

Reducing, reusing and recycling are important because they decrease the amount of waste on the planet and preserve natural resources by maintaining space and cutting down on landfills. Reducing, reusing and recycling reduce consumption of new materials and save energy.

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Full Answer

Greener Scotland explains that hauling items to landfills eats up energy and resources. Meanwhile, not all resources are replaceable. While some resources are renewable, many resources are not. Reducing, reusing and recycling contribute to reducing the demand on raw materials Also, fewer landfill sites and less trash in a landfill mean decreased pollution and greater energy efficiency.

Ways to reduce include purchasing items in bulk, making two-sided photocopies instead of one-sided copies, using electronic materials instead of print materials when possible and bypassing the purchase of paper plates and other throwaway products. Ways to reuse include packing meals in the same brown paper bag for a week or longer, repairing broken furniture and appliances, donating or selling clothing and using cloth bags instead of plastic bags when shopping. Ways to recycle include buying recycled goods, storing recyclable items in bins for local pickup or taking them to collection centers and using the other side of used paper for new printing or copies.

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