Living Green, One Tip at a Time

# 4 Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

Part 1 – Reduce

The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on recycling. Please help to promote a greater awareness of the importance of the “Reduce” part of the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra.

  • Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis.  By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.
  • Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product – do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)?
  • Replace Disposables: Wherever possible, replace disposable products with reusable ones (i.e., razor, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, furnace or air conditioner filters, etc.).
  • Buy Used: Buy used products whenever possible. Some sources:

                            – local thrift stores 
                            – Kijiji  http://www.kijiji.ca/
                            – eBay  http://www.ebay.ca/
                            – Craigslist  http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca
                            – Amazon  http://www.amazon.ca/
                            – Freecycle  http://www.freecycle.org/
                            – local newspaper listings
                            – local garage sales
                            – local used furniture stores
                            – local consignment stores

  • Borrow From Friends: If you only need something temporarily, ask if a friend or neighbor would loan it to you.
  • Share With Friends: Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between friends and neighbors.

…There is a lot of information on this topic and the post is getting very long, so I’ll continue it next Saturday!!

Much of the information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the following site –

http://www.globalstewards.org/ecotips.htm#reduce

Comments

  1. Victoria's Voice says:

    Hi Monica! These are some really great tips. I need to work harder at being green! Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog. I am your newest follower. Have an excellent weekend!

    Vickie
    http://victoriasvoice44.blogspot.com

  2. Canadian Coupon Mom says:

    Hi Monica! Great tips I love buying on ebay and kijiji..

    I'm stopping by from the Blog Entourage. You can find me at http://canadiancouponmom.blogspot.com/

  3. Those are great tips. I know it sometimes seems overwhelming.. this makes it more manageable.

    I'm a new follower from the Crazed Fan Blog Hop!

    Sarah
    Uberlibrariana

  4. msjenhen says:

    Hi Monica! Great site! Thanks for the follow from the weekend blog hop. I'm following you back!

    Jen
    http://www.savingandbleedinggreen.blogspot.com

  5. I'm following you, won't you follow me :) @ http://www.letsstartsavingnow.com. I love these blog hops, you always find wonderful blogs.

  6. Jenn at Sweet T Makes Three says:

    Thank you for the tips! I'm all about simplicity and reducing waste.
    New blog hop follower
    Sweet T Makes Three

  7. Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday! I'm your newest follower.

    Beth

  8. Thanks, that is a nice quick reference for being green. Thank you also for stopping by and following my blog. I am here returning the favor.

    Crystal

  9. Great blog Monica!…I'm following you back on goggle and twitter too : )

  10. Jeannette says:

    Such great advice. We hear so much about recycling… but not about wastefulness. Excellent post.

    Thank you for stopping by my Design blog today. I am so happy to have met you. Can't wait to see what else you have to share.

  11. Groovy Baby Blog says:

    Love your informative Blog! Following!
    Angela I.
    http://Groovybabyblog.blogspot.com

  12. awesome tips!

  13. mrs.shopper says:

    Another Canadian blogger– new gfc follower. I'm at http://simplyshopandsave.ca

  14. Hi Monica! Great tips! Thanks for linking back to my blog on your Stylish Blogger Award!! Have a great weekend!
    ~Kortney

  15. Red Nomad OZ says:

    Hey, great tips! I also LOOOOVE the local library where I can borrow books/mags for free! If I love a book/mag THAT much I buy it (secondhand)! But don't often do this – there are so many more to borrow that I can't keep up!!

    Have a great weekend!

  16. Oak Lawn Lady says:

    Great tips…we all think about recycling,(well me anyway)..but sometimes not so much about reducing!! Thanks for the reminders!!

  17. Mrs. No-No says:

    Thanks for visiting "Mrs. No-No Knows"! I am now following you back! :) Hope you will stop back often and put in your two cents.
    Carla aka Mrs. No-No
    Mrs. No-No Knows

  18. Mommy Head says:

    What great tips!

    Thanks for linking up and for following me! Glad you put our button up too! Stopping by to return the follow

  19. ::**::**::**::**Ashley E says:

    Good advice!
    Thank you for following me, and I am following you back! I'm searching for a new fiction title, so if you have one, please let me hear it!

  20. Romina Garcia says:

    Great tips!
    Awesome blog!!
    I'm your latest follower on GFC!
    Following you from the hop :-)
    You can reach me at:
    http://rominagarciamartyrhood.blogspot.com/

  21. Hello dear,

    Thanks a lot for following my blog. I am returning the love. Keep your great posts coming! Take care!

    divine's memoirs
    the journalistic view
    giveaways and bloghops

  22. Jodi Lebrun says:

    I wish I could do more of those ideas! Going to try harder..following you back!
    Thanks!

  23. allenaim photography and design says:

    GREAT list! Craigslist and the curb are two of my favs!

  24. Sandy Elliott says:

    Great tips, wonderful blog. Thanks for sharing. My local library is one of my fav places to hang out. Thanks for stopping by my site. I hope you'll come back again. Following you back. http://cherishedhandmadetreasures.blogspot.com/

  25. Great article!! thanks for following, looking forward to following your site as well!!

    ~ Lorna

    lifeinalldirections.blogspot.com

  26. SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime says:

    Thank you for the tips! So happy to find another blogger involved with being green. I've been a follower already so thanks for following me, too.

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