We’re bringing the infamous Reduce, Reuse and Recycle program back. But it seems that many people have forgotten the importance of reducing and reusing. For this method of consumption and disposal to be most effective, we really must use the R’s in the above order, with recycling bringing up the tail end.

Why are the first two R’s so important? Basically, we have become used to the idea that our resources and consumables are in plentiful stock due to their low perceived costs. Markets are good at doing a great many things, but one thing they are not good a doing is adding the environmental cost of a product to the sale price. Since we lack an Invisible Hand of Environmental Protection, here are a few things we can do to be more sustainable.

If we’re thinking about reduction, one of the best places to start is with water use. We all know that we need to cut down on time spent in the shower as well as turning the faucet off when we’re brushing our teeth, but what about the other areas of our lives. Concerning the shower, looking into buying a low flow shower nozzle. These are typically low in price, easy to install and a great way to cut down on water use.

Next, if you’re a die-hard green thumb and can’t stand having brown grass during a dry season, remember to water the yard at or after dusk to cut down on evaporation. Also, use a layer of mulch around plants to retain more water. 

The first thing we should think about if we’re looking to reduce and reuse is whether or not we actually need something. Do I need a hundred bottles of water? Or can I just simple go with my reusable bottle? Is it absolutely necessary that we buy each new model of iPhone every six months? Or can we live with the same cell phone for a few years? There are a number of habits that we can change in order to help the environment.

Don’t throw away all of those old clothes sitting in your closet, donate them to ARC or Goodwill. Help out a small “Buy, Sell and Trade” business or websites like Ebay or Craigslist when looking for things such as books, CDs, DVDs, games, and clothing. Also, don’t be so hasty to trash a malfunctioning computer if it can be repaired – that thing has to go somewhere.

So what do we do when we have no choice but to throw away the things we can’t use any longer? Most of us know what to do if it’s aluminum or plastic, so let’s look into electronics – the new tumor in the garbage heap. Check on-line for computer recycling facilities nearest to you, and help reduce the amount of lead, cadmium and mercury piling up in our backyard. Many of these recycling centers will recycle other electronics like DVD players, cell phones, VCRs, and TVs. Even your local Best Buy has E-cycle programs available for customers. It’s amazing to think about, but just about everything we use in our daily lives can be broken down and reused again.

There are a number of ways we can be more sustainable and environmentally conscious without putting too much strain on our daily lives. If you think about it, being a sustainable consumer also has benefits for the pocket book. The one thing people never tell you about keeping up with the Joneses is that it takes a toll on the pocket book as well as the environment.