top of page
Jul 31, 20234 min read

Rethink “reduce, reuse, recycle”

In 1976 Congress passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This act was intended to address the absurd amount of household trash that was ending up in landfills. Around this same time, the slogan “reduce, reuse, and recycle” was introduced. This slogan has proven to be one of the most successful marketing campaigns as it continues to be commonly used today.


The slogan has also proven to be a monumental failure, given that the absurd amount of trash—not just in landfills—has grown exponentially. We’ve become overly reliant on (and possibly addicted to) the third “R,” recycle.



It feels good to put something in the recycling bin. Maybe even a little self-righteous. We’ve come to believe that if something is recyclable, it’s not a problem. Recycling has become our saving grace, the absolution to rampant consumerism. But even if everything we tossed was recyclable, we’d still end up in a shortfall to keep up with a growing population and the ever-increasing demands of consumerism.


Today, we are in a very productivist capitalist model of overconsumption and overproduction. We can see that this is incompatible with our ecological objectives and the maintenance of life on Earth. — David Cormand, French Green MEP (Member of the European Parliament)

Consider also that just because something can be recycled doesn’t mean that it is recycled. The numbers are elusive. According to the EPA, out of 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018, only 94 million tons were recycled or composted, equivalent to 32.1%. Those numbers don’t differentiate what could be recycled from what was recycled. Rates for plastic are far lower—only 3-5% of the plastic that enters the recycling stream is actually recycled, with an estimate that only 9% of all plastic ever created has been recycled.


“Wishcycling” makes the recycling rate worse: When in doubt, we’re likely to toss items in the recycling bin because we hope they will be recycled or we think they should be. The contamination can create downstream issues in sorting facilities, causing entire loads to be rejected and diverted to unregulated facilities from where the trash ends up in landfills, waterways, oceans, or burned. A few years back, China stopped taking recyclable waste from the U.S. because it was highly contaminated with non-recyclable items.


The positive emotions associated with recycling can overpower the negative emotions associated with wasting. — Monic Sun and Remi Trudel, professors at Boston University

Recycling, even when successful, introduces another set of issues. The facilities themselves are eyesores and hazardous for employees. The process is energy intensive, releases airborne toxins, and can cause massive pollution and groundwater contamination. Although recycling is considered eco-friendly, the cost is up to three times greater than the landfill alternative (at least in the capitalistic short-term way of thinking).


Shifting the mindset

So how do we shift mindset to prioritize Reduce and Reuse over Recycle?

  • Start with awareness: Pay attention to the things you buy and the things you throw away. Really pay attention.

  • Stop buying beverages in plastic bottles: There are enough alternatives at this point that bottled water shouldn't even exist

  • Explore second-hand options: Consignment and thrift stores, online markets (like Craigslist, ThredUp, Ebay, OfferUp), yard/garage sales, and reclaimed materials stores like RE Store or Habitat for Humanity

  • Follow the 24-hour rule for online shopping: Put the item in your cart, wait 24-hours, and then decide if the magic is still there (a tactic that also helps curb spending)

  • Buy the best quality you can: Delay and save until you can make the right purchase instead of the right now purchase

  • Choose natural materials over synthetic ones: Synthetic fibers, like polyester, acrylic, and nylon, are petroleum based, shed microfibers during the wash cycle, and don't biodegrade

  • Borrow from a friend or neighbor, or through an online community like NextDoor

  • Put items you no longer use back into circulation: Give to a friend or neighbor, donate to local charities, or post items online

  • Buy local to minimize product packaging/shipping waste (and support local economy)

  • Buy full-sized items (or bulk) instead of single-sized to minimize packaging waste

  • Say no to promo items (single-use samples, company-branded swag)

  • Bring your own containers for takeout and leftovers

  • Use refillable options for personal care and home cleaning products

  • Bring your own reusable bags when shopping: Keep them in your car or hang them near the front door so you don't forget to bring them

  • Choose options with less packaging, especially plastic packaging (see my recommendations)

The list above is a starting point. If you have other tips, please share them—scroll down to submit feedback. For those who want to take things a bit further, consider these actions:

  • Research companies to understand their impact to the environment, and then choose those with the best practices

  • Contact companies to raise concerns about their impact to the environment

  • Raise your concerns to elected officials in your area

Sources

Comments

bottom of page