Reduce Reuse Recycle Rethink
Arrow


Lots of people are familiar with the three Rs, so we at the SWA added a fourth R: RETHINK!

The way we process your waste has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Now we are asking you to Rethink your waste.

Orange Box - Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuce Recycle Rethink
Reduce Reuse Recycle - Map Segment
Guided Trail Walks»

RETHINK the 3 Rs


Reduce
How can you change your shopping habits to make less waste? Bringing your reusable bags to the grocery store is one way to cut down on plastic waste. What else can you do in your life to reduce your waste? Check out more ideas from the US Environmental Protection Agency»
Reuse
Before you throw it away, stop and consider a different future for that trash. Challenge yourself to be creative, come up with ways to reuse things instead of throwing it away. If you are having trouble thinking of ways to reuse items, donate them to others who are in need. The SWA supports Resource Depot a local reuse organization that collects things people want to get rid off and organizes it all for teachers in our community.
Recycle
The Solid Waste Authority accepts recyclable material and sells it for profit to companies around the country. In Palm Beach County we have a dual stream recycling system. We keep your paper separate from all of your other recyclable materials. We do this to keep the paper clean for the companies that buy it. Not everything is recyclable. We can only use what we know there is a market for. Find out if you Recycle Right

Natural Resources Surround 


 Why bother with the four Rs? Does it even make a difference? What’s the point?

All of these are great questions and to answer them, let’s take a close look at what we throw away at home. All of our household consumable goods are made from natural resources. A natural resource is anything that comes from the earth, and can be used by people in some way. Look around, pick 3 things around you or on you and figure out what they are made of.

Check out this great resource listing common materials and what they are made from.

Inspirational Leader: Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, the first U.S. law to provide general protection to cultural and natural resources. This law made it easier to create national parks and preserves. In his time as President, Roosevelt preserved more than 230 million acres of public lands. Learn more about Roosevelt’s presidential legacy and his impact to the National Park Service.

Theodore Roosevelt