When I was first researching how to reduce waste I found TONS of blog posts about the 5 R's! It made a huge idea into a easy to grasp step by step process. So I've written my thoughts about the 5 R's here! We all can take these steps to varying degrees to reduce what we send to the landfill!
Refuse
According to a super quick google search Canada alone sends 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags a year to the landfill and many of those end up in the ocean. Our personal contribution to this can be reduced greatly by refusing the plastic bag any time we purchase a product. Saying no to samples means you reduce the waste you've sent to the landfill. Skipping samples at Costco is the worlds hardest thing and I hate it. But the urge to grab free food is slightly less then the urge to send less garbage to the landfill. Unless it looks really delicious. It's hard. Refusing plastic cutlery is another easy way to reduce the amount of things you toss. Refusing straws at bars.
Once you get into the practice of refusing things you have massively reduced the amount of trash you have tossed. It surprised me how easy it was to do this step. It was a little uncomfortable to ask people to leave out the straw or to say no to a plastic bag or a pamphlet. But people are using understanding if you are kind when you ask. Trust me, I am chronically bad at confrontation and if I am able to say 'no thanks, pal' then so can you!
Reduce
After you have practiced refusing you are still creating waste. The next step is to reduce. Paper towels are a huge thing, they can be composted now in Calgary, but there is still massive production waste, packaging, and if you aren't in the practice of composting them they go to the landfill. They are also expensive and that blows. To reduce that waste I use dishcloths and tea towels. Instead of buying spaghetti in boxes and plastic I buy it in jars from Bulk Barn. Reducing your consumption, in regards to clothing can mean purchasing second hand. Thrift stores often only have a small tag on them OR NO TAG! Also easier on the wallet which is wonderful.
Reuse or Repair or Replace
Disposable things are prevalent in our society: plastic bags, bottled water, plastic wrap, disposable razors, coffee filters, and many more. Replacing those items with compostable or multiple use items takes time and attention but is attainable. Once you have finished a tub of toothpaste you can make your own! Instead of using plastic water bottles you can carry a water bottle, I use a Nalgene because I already had one! No need to buy a new water bottle and create more waste. Refusing a plastic bag means you may want to carry a cloth bag with you to carry home groceries or other items. Instead of buying new pants everytime yours tear consider repairing them! I love finding multiple ways to use an item and ways to reuse things I considered useless. For example, Josh had some stanky work shirts from a long summer working construction. But I didn't want to just through those away, so I washed them (a couple times) and cut the parts that weren't super nasty into rags that I used instead of paper towels! Also sometimes Josh and I will get a plastic bag (sorry to shock you the I am not perfect) we will use it to clean our rabbits cage, or in our smaller bathroom garbage. I'm still working on getting to the point we don't need one.
Recycle
Living in Calgary recycling was a dream, just put it in the correct bin and it disappeared. I went on a field trip to the recycling facility in Calgary once, it smelled and the snacks were subpar. In regards to how it can help reduce waste, this redirects things from the landfill! Some companies are using recycled materials to create new sustainable products. Since Josh and I have moved to the pass I am going to have to figure out how to properly recycle. This will be interesting.
Rot
Everything you can not refuse, reduce, reuse, or recycle then you should be able to compost! Again, Calgary made composting 10/10 easy. I just had to keep it all in a compostable bag that I got at Safeway and then take it down to the bin. I hope to start composting for myself in the fall. We shall see how that goes!
