Ziptrek Ecotours

Thinking Outside the Recycle Box

May 2010

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – these are the ubiquitous three R’s that we have heard echoing throughout our homes, schools and offices for at least two decades.

It is no coincidence that the three R’s appear in the order they do. According to the ‘Waste Disposal Hierarchy’ the most important step to waste management is to reduce. By shopping wisely and using less, we are able to eliminate waste at its source. The second most important R stands for reuse, taking items that we no longer need and finding alternative uses for them. Finally, materials that cannot be reused can often be recycled, the act of processing used materials into new products. The goal of the three R’s is, of course, to keep waste out of our landfills.

Is it possible, however, that such a powerful emphasis has been put on recycling that we have forgotten about the two most important R’s?  

Let’s clarify: the success story of recycling is a major step in the right direction. In 2008, Encorp Pacific Canada kept over one billion containers out of landfills; 71million more than were collected in 2007.  Annually in Whistler, the quantity of recycled and composted goods is increasing as the quantity of waste sent to the landfills is decreasing. The good news is that yes, we love to recycle! The bad news is that reducing and reusing are not so central on our radar: according to Whistler2020.ca, from 1999 to 2008, the three year average amount of materials being used in Whistler has increased on an absolute and per capita basis.        

But what if, on a household basis, we were able to create a paradigm shift? Instead of recycling to keep items out of the landfills, could we focus on reducing and reusing to keep items out of the recycling?   

On a municipal level here in Whistler, the first two R’s have played multiple roles in the waste management sector. Among Whistler’s successes within the realms of reducing and reusing are the astoundingly successful Re-Use-It Center and the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Material Exchange (MMEX).   

But what about in our homes? How are we able to integrate reducing and reusing into our everyday lives?

The answer is simple: incorporating into our mindsets a fourth R, one that allows us to consider options outside the recycle box– Rethink. Rethink community relations: want to get to know your neighbours better? Why not share tools and materials for home and community projects. Rethink local contributions: by supporting initiatives like the Re-Use-It Center or donating old clothes, blankets, books, glasses, paint and building supplies to local charities, we achieve the best of both worlds: aiding those in our communities while prolonging the life of household items.  

Recycling is a fantastic way to reduce our environmental footprint, but let’s not forget that the process involves water and energy consumption of its own. Since we are on a role with the third R, why not spend some time rethinking our contribution to reducing and reusing?

What an optimistic feeling it is to seek further improvement upon a successful environmental initiative. For additional information on waste reduction, check out carneyswaste.com, as well as the Recycling Council of British Columbia at rcbc.ca.