 |
| Fork Coat Rack by JJ Evensen Art. |
So last week, I challenged you to take time to think about the waste you produce. I’m not asking anyone to do the impossible and completely eliminate waste from their lives. But I am asking you to take responsibility for what you throw away and question the waste habits you currently have. And we’re addressing the issue by talking about the tenets of waste management: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
After talking about the importance of reducing waste in our lives, let’s talk about the next step.
Reuse, the second tenet of waste management, challenges us find an alternative to an object that would otherwise be thrown away. This might be through conventional reuse where the item is used again for the same function or reusing an item for a new function.
Reusable Items
One of the best ways implement the action Reuse is through replacing disposable items in your life with reusable ones. This step alone can make a big difference in the amount of waste produced in your home.
Start thinking about the disposable items you use and their reusable alternatives. Paper napkins, paper towels, plastic water bottles, freezer bags, plastic wrap, plastic shopping bags, etc. are all items that are relatively easy to replace or reduce the use of through reusable items.
You might be surprised with just how many things you can replace with reusable! In addition to the commonly thought of reusable alternatives, a few other options to consider are reusable coffee filters, reusable produce bags, cloth diapers, cloth wipes, and reusable feminine products.
Reusable items might require an initial upfront cost, but in the end, you can save a lot of money through using them. And as I’ve said before, start with one thing, like a reusable water bottle and go from there.
Repurpose
Another aspect of reusing is to find an additional use for an item. What might have found the end to its useful life in one aspect, can have a purpose in another. The key to this alternative is to be creative and think outside the box.
The options for repurposing are truly ENDLESS. Those glass food jars can be used for storing food, art supplies and more. Wine and beer bottles can turn into candle holders. Egg cartons and toilet paper rolls can be used to start seeds in. And don’t even get me started on the craft options available to kids.
One Last Thought
As I bring this post to a close, there is one thing I’d like to clarify. While reusing it an important aspect of waste management, remember that reducing waste comes first. You can find great alternatives to throwing something out, but I am not an advocate of holding on to everything in hopes of finding an alternative use for it. I’m big on keeping chaos out of your home. Think creatively and have fun reusing items, but use wisdom.
So, join me this week as I share some ideas for reusing items in your life.
What are your favorite ways to reuse in your home?
