| Apply all the steps of purchase discussed
under Reduce. Reusing products delays or avoids
having them end up in the landfill. How can you practice reuse? Donate,
repair, refill, reuse, rent, rebuild, resell. Think of new uses for used
items. We can lessen our affect on the environment by buying used or pre-owned
items such as clothing, furniture, appliances, automobiles,
homes, and everything in-between. Used items usually cost us less than
buying “new,” and reduce production costs to the environment.
A great example of reuse is glass. Glass bottles and jars that are brought
to the Hal Flanders Recycling Center are processed nearby. The glass is
crushed and tumbled, resulting in a pea-sized, smooth-edged aggregate that
is perfect for using as mulch. Look for it used in various landscape applications
throughout Alpine.
In addition to supporting local thrift stores
and garage sales, we can use Freecycle
to find new homes for items we no longer want. Freecycle is a local (Brewster
County) email network where anyone can post something they want to give
away.
To swap, buy, or sell items, another local online
network is Brewster
County Swap.
Both of these email groups are a great way to
keep useable items out of the landfill and build community at the same
time!
Other great ideas for reuse include composting,
rainwater
catchment systems, grey-water
systems, and shredding used paper to make papercrete.
Reusing items is only as limited as your imagination. |
