The “Three Rs” of Recycling
They are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – in that order.
Reduce
First, we want to reduce how much we consume to really reduce our impact on the environment, from the raw materials that come out of the ground, to the resources used to transport products. The fewer things we buy, the less space we need to store them, and the less we throw out in the future.
Reuse
Secondly, we need to reuse what we already have, or buy things second-hand. The resources have already been used to make these items, so we should get all the use we can out of them. Often, we purchase a product because it is the “new and improved” version of what we already own – but it’s funny how we were perfectly happy with what we had until the new one came out. We can also reuse what we already have for a different purpose. This is called “upcycling”, and is a popular trend in furniture and home décor.
Recycle
Lastly, we need to recycle. This saves more raw materials and the extra energy required to make new products. For example, recycling just one ton of paper can save enough energy to heat a home for six months! Recycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways for Dallas residents to get involved in the City’s efforts to conserve our resources and protect the environment. We can all work together to lessen our environmental footprint by making a conscious choice to pitch our recyclables in the Big, Blue Bin or Community Recycling Container.
