Consider Reducing, Reusing & Recycling
Back in the late sixties, the air in LA was yellow and unbreathable. Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River caught on fire due to all the toxic waste floating right on the surface. Paper mills and many personal waste systems were dumping directly into our rivers and oceans. People began questioning these practices and started the world’s first environmental revolution. In the seventies, they fought to improve the air and the water around us and accomplished historical things including the Clean Air Bill, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the development of the Environmental Protection Agency. One of the most impactful programs to the average person was the implementation of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle initiative.
It took generations before we saw curbside pickup of recyclables in small towns across America, but the country quickly embraced the idea that small steps could really make a difference, and now we see bins outside almost every home on pick up day.
But have we forgotten the other R’s? When was the last time you thought about how you could reduce your overall consumption, especially of anything related to fossil fuels? Or Reusing? Do you often look at that empty plastic sour cream container and say, “What can I use this for?” and then think of several ideas?
When was the last time you were jumping in the car to run to the store, then stopped and decided to ride your bike instead? Life is moving at a hectic pace these days and we are bombarded with so much information it is no wonder that these 3 R’s aren’t front and center, but for decades they’ve been recognized as a keystone to minimizing the human impact on the planet.
So let’s take some time to consider the many ways our lives impact our environment and the little things we can do today that would quickly reduce our footprint.
Consider Water
Water is the source of life. Human beings are made of 75% water, and we’ve all heard the fitness mantra to hydrate hydrate hydrate to help keep us that way. But even way back in the 1960s, it was evident that industrialization was negatively impacting our drinking water. The importance of water as a resource for humans worldwide was publicly hailed when then President John F. Kennedy said, “Anyone who can solve the problems of water is worthy of two Nobel prizes — one for peace and one for science.”
Although no one may ever be able to solve this multifaceted problem, there is plenty an individual can do to slow down their personal consumption and conserve gallons of potable water. Think RRR…Reduce…Reuse…Recycle.
Reduce: Consider turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Depending on how wide open you crank your faucet you could be throwing away gallons of water. The simple act of shutting your faucet off and on to rinse your brush instead of just letting it flow will not only conserve a valuable resource, but will put money directly into your pocket.
Reuse: Consider, when mopping your floors, not pouring out that bucket of dirty water, but instead using it to clean outdoor spaces like garage floors, driveways and decks. Not only are you saving water but reducing the chemical cleaners released to the environment.
Recycle: Consider collecting yesterday’s pet water to water your potted plants indoor and out. If you leave a watering can by the pet bowls, not only will it act as a friendly reminder and make collecting water simple, it can be decorated to fit your decor.
Editor’s Note: This is the beginning of a new series in the Gorham Times where we will highlight a specific theme and then look at several ways to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If you have an idea for a new topic to consider, please submit to gorhamtimes@gmail.com.