It seems the whole world is on a giant “green” kick. We see it on NBC’s Green Week, and billboards encouraging us to recycle are found on freeways around the country. There is still a small minority of people who feel this is just a fad, and only hippies care about the environment. The truth is, caring for our planet IS important, but it isn’t always easy to be ‘green,’ and we don’t always understand the harm in our old habits. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are like puzzle pieces; each one is important and necessary to stop the damage and heal our planet. Let’s take a look at each piece to the puzzle and how they fit together.

Reduce

The United States is a country full of consumer-driven individuals. Not only are we constantly buying, but we are buying single-use items far too often. Whatever happened to the days of going to a coffee shop and drinking your coffee there in a ceramic mug? We are all in such a rush, that everything is in a disposable, single-use package. That disposable coffee container or Styrofoam to-go box is forgotten as soon as you throw it in the trash, but it will live longer in our landfills than you or I.

The first step, and possibly the most important, is to reduce your overall trash consumption. Bring your own reusable to-go containers from home, drink coffee from a mug, and be conscious about any unnecessary purchases. If you know it won’t last long, it’s probably not an eco-friendly purchase.

Reuse

Unless you stop shopping altogether, it is impossible to stop all trash consumption. The next step after reducing your trash is to reuse anything possible. I am amazed at how creative we are to come up with so many uses for old K-cups, glass jars, and plastic bottles. Not only does it save our environment, but reusing things we already own saves money as well!

With Pinterest boards and Etsy sellers devoted to reuse, it has never been easier to come up with creative ways to reuse your own products again and again. Why throw away when you can create? If you are not DIY inclined, purchasing a second-hand product is a great way to promote reuse. Shop for clothes from a used clothing store, or buy art made from reused items, and encourage others to do the same. That is how we can make positive change.

Recycle

Recycling is the last line of defense in reduce, reuse, recycle. Anything that can be recycled, should be recycled. Throwing recyclables in the trash is a waste, when they could be brought to new life by recycling and being made into something new. Let’s look at some everyday household items, and where they come from:

• Toilet Paper-Made from recycled computer and notebook paper .
• Paper grocery bags-Made from recycled cardboard boxes.
• Egg crates-Made from recycled newspapers.
• Aluminum Foil-Made from recycled and melted down aluminum cans.
• Stadium seats-Made from recycled laundry detergent bottles.

Give your purchased goods a new purpose by participating in recycling programs in your area.

There is a lot of work to be done, but even one small change in lifestyle can make a huge difference. Don’t let the stress cripple you from making any changes, instead choose a couple of little things you can do to make a difference. Start using cloth grocery bags, utilize your curbside recycling program, or turn your K cups into seed starters. Whatever you decide, know that you are making a positive difference for our future.