Reuse Benefits

June 12, 2009 by admin

Benefits of Reusing

Reuse is the second choice of the 3r’s Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle. A simple definition or reuse from the Encarta Dictionary is “the use of something again”. The benefits of reusing materials should be obvious. The list of items that can be reused is virtually unlimited.

Save Land from Landfill

The aim of reuse is to find ways to, as much as possible, keep reusing a perfectly useful product that may otherwise be sent into the waste stream adding to landfill.

Save Money on Disposal Costs

On top of this if you live in an area where there are pay-as-you-throw programs or have high taxes due to the cost of waste, then if you practice reusing your waste will reduce and you will start to save on the cost of disposing of your waste.

Save the Cost of Recycling

Also keep in mind that reusing an item may save the cost of recycling that item later.

Saves Valuable Un-renewable Natural Resources

Another obvious result of reusing a product is that it will not require the raw materials required by a new product. This means reusing saves any valuable un-renewable natural resources like water, oil, coal, and raw minerals required to produce new products.

Saves Energy

Reuse of an item saves on the energy that would be required to produce the item new. Producing energy uses up valuable resources like oil, coal, timber and so on.

Reduces Our Reliance on Foreign Oil

Keep in mind saving energy will help reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

Help the Less Fortunate

Taking useful products (like books, sport equipment, cloths, kitchen items, furniture, musical instruments, toys etc) that are being discarded by folks who no longer want or need them, and making them more affordable for to those who would like them is economical way for people get items that they need.

Helps Keep Resources in the Community Helping the Local Economy

Instead of dumping used products are given to local used outlets and charities, these resources are kept in the community helping the local economy.

Reuse Supports Local Communities and Local Social Programs

Through out the years reuse has been used as a significant way of getting needed items to the many disadvantaged members of a community. Social Programs and emergency programs depend heavily on second had merchandise. In addition there many reuse organizations that provide job-training and other responsibility programs for handicapped and at-risk youth.

Have Fun Antique Shopping

Seeking out used items you can often find very unique items and valuable items. This can be interesting and fun.

Supports Your Government

In the U.S. the government is one of the largest suppliers of used goods; it regularly sells off its surplus items.

Support Volunteer Organizations and Charities

Volunteer organizations and charities collect and resell used items as a way to support their community programs.

Of Course Reuse Saves the Environment

Reusing products limits the need for new products and their manufacturing processes which generally use energy that creates some pollution, plus the manufacturing of new goods uses natural resources.

It’s Easy

One of the benefits of choosing reuse to help the environment is that it’s easy. There are so many ways to practice reuse. You can give away used items through all kind of events like Auctions, Bazaars, Book/Magazine Exchanges, Car Boot Sales, Drop & Swap, Estate Sales, Give-Away Swaps, Garage Sales, Garbage Fairs, Give-Away Shops, Jumble Sales, Material Exchanges, Reuse Fairs, Reuse Roundups, Rummage Sales, Salvage Yards, Swap Meets, Yard Sales, etc. Find a place to give to or organize your own reuse event.

Also you can purchase used goods form all kind of places if you look for them. Here are some examples: Arc Thrift Stores, Auctions, Brotherhood Of St. Laurence, Charitable Shops, Drop-Off Centers And Organizations, Classified Ads, Consignment Shops, Deseret Industries (In The Western U.S.), Ebay, Estate Sales, Flea Markets, Goodwill, Hospice Shops, On-Line Auctions, Opportunity Shops, Red Cross, Restore (See Habitat For Humanity International), Salvation Army, Second-hand Stores, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Surplus Stores, The Freecycle Network, Reuse Centres, Thrift shops, Used Equipment Stores, Value Village, Etc.

Filed under: Reuse
Tagged: 3Rs of Going Green, Reuse