Reduce, reuse, recycle. In this triad of environmental philosophy I have already talked about the reducing part, so next, let’s focus on reusing. While it is slightly less effective than reducing, reusing can be a vital way to close the waste streams created by today’s consumer world. Think about how often you throw items away that could easily be reused with cleaning, a little repair, or repurposing. I am bringing this topic to people to make them think – not to make you feel bad. Trust me, I am as bad about this part as anyone, so we can look at this subject and learn together.

Reuse: “to use again especially in a different way or after reclaiming or reprocessing.” This definition from Merriam Webster basically sums up the idea. This topic is about getting extra out of what you already have (or conversely, someone has already used). Let’s talk about some benefits of reusing:

• Environmental – first let’s talk about some of the reasons that this will help the world.
  • This keeps perfectly good items from going to the landfill.
    • I have seen many great DIY ideas that are along this thinking: from using old packing crates as a coffee table, to using beer bottles for everything from candles to vases.
  • Also, reusing reduces the need for constant new products. This ultimately means less pollution on the front end, as well as less waste on the back.
• Money – the effect of reusing can have a huge impact on your finances.
  • Mending clothes by learning how to sew and patch is very useful to lengthen the life of clothing
  • Basic maintenance for cars, appliances and many other items can save you a ton of money by making their lifespan considerably longer
  • You can also repurpose so many items that are sold at considerable costs: think driftwood tables

Think about how much reusing could benefit the environment and you. If you could spend 15 minutes fixing, mending, or repurposing an item, wouldn’t that be worth it? As well as personally, think of all those items you have that you don’t use. I bet someone could get great use out of these. You can go give these to friends, or maybe to a charity. So start using your skills of reusing, and you can begin to make a true difference.