Have any of you ever heard of the 3Rs? Can you name them? Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We want you to manage your waste in that manner. At the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County we have added a fourth R – Rethink! – because before you throw anything away, we are asking that you Rethink! your waste generation.
Reduce
Reduce means to make less waste. How can you create less waste in your life? How can you reduce what you are throwing away? One way to do so is to use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic bags. Plastic bags are made from petroleum like the oil in your car and they are not recyclable in your blue or yellow bins.
Reuse
The next R is Reuse. If you can’t reduce an item from your waste, can you reuse it or come up with a creative way to use it again. In the case in front of you, you see items that were reused – the Capri sun pouches, which are not recyclable, have been turned into a purse. The old utensils have been turned into a decorative figurine. What else can you reuse at home?
Recycle
The word Recycle means to take something old and turn it into something new. The trucks in this case are made from recycled milk jugs! It is important for you to Recycle Right everyday - at home, school, work and play - so that we can recycle your items properly and efficiently.
Rethink!
We feel that Rethink! is the most important of the 4Rs. We encourage you to rethink your waste at every step from when you buy something new to when you get ready to throw something out. Make the 4Rs part of your life by actively rethinking how you can reduce, reuse and recycle right!
