Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover
The world is an amazing place, it is full of plants, animals and resources that allow us to enjoy our lives, that is why it is so important that we take care of the resources of our planet, because without them our life would be very different, so what is a resource?
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Resources:
Fundamental Pillars of Our Daily Life and Sustainability
A resource is something that people use to live. They can be natural or man-made. Every day we use resources, from the drinking water we drink to the electricity that powers our homes. It's almost like magic, you turn on a tap and the water comes out in an instant or you flick a switch and the whole room lights up, but resources don't just appear out of nowhere, they all come from somewhere and when we don't use them properly there can be serious consequences for the environment.
What can we do to ensure that we use our resources wisely?
The four "R's" stand for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover. If we all follow the "R's", together we can work to use our resources wisely and keep our planet healthy.
Reduce
It means saying no to things we don't need. When you're about to use something that you're probably going to throw away immediately afterwards, think: do I really need to use this? if the answer is no, say no, thank you. Reducing means using less. Sometimes it's hard to stop using resources altogether, but you can always try to reduce the amount you use. Before you buy something new, check what you already have, you may find that you have exactly what you need.
Reuse
It means giving a new use to resources once we have finished using them for their original purpose. It is the opportunity to be creative and, instead of throwing an object away, think of another way to use it.
Recycle
It means transforming waste into things that can be used again, either in another product or in the same product, such as a pet container, which can be transformed into the same pet container (bottle to bottle). When we throw away a product it is important to know the material it is made of and how to separate it correctly so that it can be recycled (organic and inorganic).
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Retrieve
This process consists of using a waste generated in another process, energy can also be extracted, and using it for another product. An example that makes it much easier to understand. Glass or tires can be used for roads or playground floors. Within the concept of Recover, we could add an adaptation of this concept, which could be called the 5R: repair. Undoubtedly, when we repair or recover an object for its use, we are extending its useful life and, therefore, avoiding the use of polluting energies and raw materials; if it can be repaired, it is better to do so than to buy or consume something new.
Let's turn to the future
with the 4 R's.
So the next time you are going to put a waste in the trash, identify what material it is made of and sort it in the right way: Waste such as glass, cans, paper and plastic can be sorted and sent to plants where they can be reconverted into brand new items. The classification from our homes is of vital importance to avoid contamination with organic matter that can generate fungi or bacteria and thus achieve that other new products can be created reducing the environmental impact while saving resources, thus closing the cycle of the circular economy.
We only have one planet, we can't just pack up and move to another one if we damage ours too much, that's why we must take care of it. If we all Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover we will use less of the Earth's natural resources, reduce our waste and pollution and reuse what we already have, maintain good environmental conditions and protect our planet's biodiversity.
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