THe three R's of Environmental (and budget) Sustainability

Guest Contributor: Andrea Schmutz
USU Extension Assistant Professor

​Knowing that most everyone appreciates a little more green in their wallet, especially as we head into holiday season, I’d like to share my most recent epiphany. I was reading about “America Recycles Day”, where each year, on or near November 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the importance and impact of recycling to our nation’s economy and environment. The EPA’s website, epa.gov, provides fantastic information about greener living, recycling and reducing waste. As I perused an infographic on the website titled “Think Green Before You Shop”, I suddenly realized that the three R’s of environmental sustainability: reduce, reuse, and recycle, could also be called the three R’s of budget sustainability.

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Reduce: The first “R” is about creating less waste. This includes only buying what you need, choosing products with less packaging, and looking for items you can reuse. Some questions to ask when shopping are:

• Do I really need it?
• Will I really use it?
• Do I already own it?
• Can I borrow it?

Another piece of advice to help reduce the amount of goods and materials you consume is the three day rule: if you want to buy something non-essential, wait three days. After the three days, if you are still thinking about the item, you can purchase it. Many times, however, you will have forgotten about it and will save money and waste by avoiding an impulse buy.
 
Reuse: The second “R” focuses on finding ways to use items multiple times before replacing them or choosing items that can be reused instead of choosing their disposable counterparts. For example, use a refillable water bottle instead of buying the disposable ones or take real silverware for lunch at work instead of using disposable utensils. Some great kitchen hacks that involve reusing items are:

• The cereal bag from inside the box of cereal - Use in place of wax paper. Cut it open and use it when making no-bake cookies or line your pan when making Rice Krispy treats.
• The thick rubber band on broccoli - Place it around a jar lid for extra grip when opening.
• Butter wrapper - If there is a little butter on the wrapper, use it to grease your pan.
• Jars or plastic food containers - Store leftovers or take your lunch to work in them.
• Old clothes or towels - Use as cleaning rags or as protection when packing fragile items.

 
Recycle: According to the EPA, recycling is “the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products”. This might mean placing items in the recycle bin to be carried away and used to manufacture something else.  For me, this becomes a game and a challenge to use my creativity. At our house, the kids will hold up a piece of “trash” and ask, “Can we make anything out of this or should I throw it away?” Fun ideas for recycling:

• Gift bags and purses out of CapriSun pouches and party size M&M or Skittles bags, 
• Belts and wallets out of old bike tire tubes
• New clothing items from worn out clothes such as a skirt from holy jeans
• Crocheted hats and bags from plastic grocery bags
• Backpack from an old hoodie

 
Rethink: I realize this is technically a fourth “R”, but I think it wraps things up nicely. This year, celebrate America Recycles Day by rethinking some of your daily habits and choosing to live a little “greener”. Not only will you be helping the environment, you will also be helping your budget.

Parting thought: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” 
                                                               - attributed to Calvin Coolidge