Research Project Part 3: Lets recycle!

We, as the caretakers of our earth, must take seriously these three simple words: reduce, reuse, recycle. Many people believe that these three vital steps to improving our living and our world, are neither important nor very successful. What is reducing, reusing, and recycling exactly? Well to begin reducing, simply means to make less the amount of disposable products used in everyday life. This does not necessarily have to be a very dramatic change, all it takes to contribute to the silent movement is gradual and a clear decision to make an effort to become more aware of the waste produced by yourself. Reusing is a pretty self-discriptive word. People can make use of things that are made to reuse, things like sturdy grocery bags that would replace plastic ones. Plastic bags can even be reused for numerous jobs around the house, or in stores. The last “R” in the environmentally friendly steps, is recycle. Recycling is made easy for many people in cities and suburbs. There are many facilities that take recyclable trash, and some places even offer money for things like cans and plastic bottles. Some neighborhoods have programs that allow you to separate waste from recyclable items. The recycle-friendly trash is picked up weekly, this is probably the most convenient way to live a “green” life. For people, like myself, who live in secluded areas that have very little or even no existing recycling projects available, a simpler version of recycling could be used. This could be reusing items in creative and useful ways, this would help you save money and become more efficient. Although many people think that it does not matter if they do not reduce, reuse, and recycle they are wrong because, reusing items such as water bottles save money, recycling waste saves the environment, such as trees, and the world will be a little bit less polluted and degraded. 

Many Americans today feel that their own lives are much to hectic to be bothered with silly things such as recycling. They do not see the overall positive impact their contributions, no matter how small, to the green movement, could have on our environment and country. In some areas of the country recycling would cost more and use more energy then creating a new product. Other towns and villages do not even provide the equipment, or resources necessary to begin a recycling program. Many people are not informed of the ways creating a huge amount of waste has on the world around them. Trees are cut down, cities are littered with stray garbage, our oceans are filled with waste that contaminates sea life, too much waste is being distributed in our world, every effort to clean it up counts.

There are lots of ways to utilize the three Rs, some examples would be: using a water filter system in the place of store bought bottles of water, reducing the amount of disposable items you buy daily, and even purchasing merchandise that is completely made of recycled items. There are lots of websites that offer tips and even a quick and simple way to get rid of waste in a healthy way. Many of these sites require a membership, which is relatively easy to set up. This would be a great way for rural Alaskans, like myself, to contribute to the cleaning and conserving of our world and resources. People living in the city have much more recycling opportunities, even the car that a person chooses to drive can have a positive impact. Putting the car away and pulling out the bicycle and helmet would not only help clean up our air, it would also help with getting in shape and creating a healthier life. There are numerous options that allow everyday citizens to take part in the global movement towards a better world.

No person can make the excuse that they simply cannot take part in a cleaner world. Even people living in tiny villages are able to make the smallest contribution, such as picking up trash they see on the ground and getting more people to help. Picking up the litter does not cost any money, and it prevents wildlife from trying to consume this trash, not to mention the earth looks a lot prettier litter free. If everyone does their part to reduce the amount of waste they produce, reuse handy items they might throw away, and recycle waste, the world will become a much better place. The oceans will be cleaner, whales decontaminated, fish healthy, and trees will thrive. If you think you cannot, will not, or are not able to help with a cleaner earth, you are very mistaken.