In addition to the 3 R’s–reduce, reuse and recycle–there’s a wonderful word to add to your vocabulary and to put into action in your life: PRECYCLE! While recycling can be very helpful for the environment, precycling can reduce waste before it gets to that point. Precycling is actually preventing and lowering the amount of waste in the world due to consumption. It is something everyone can do on a daily basis and if done by many, it can really reduce the massive amounts of garbage thrown away each day.
A few stats to consider: The EPA estimates the average American generates over 4 1/2 pounds of garbage each day. That means collectively we create over 230 million tons of trash each year! One-third of all this garbage is packaging, an area where we can all take immediate and effective steps to minimize.
Historically, packaging was used to protect and contain products for transport and sale, to keep items fresh, promote sanitary conditions, and prevent breakage. Packaging has expanded as we’ve expanded our demands to acquire products from all over the world (which requires additional packaging). Packaging also serves advertisers–the more packaging (i.e., the bigger, the brighter, the flashier), the more likely you are to buy the product. Packaging is being designed with the consumer rather than the environment in mind. And, although you may want to recycle the packaging, sadly, much of it must go in the trash.
In 1995 Discover magazine revealed that about 15 percent of our landfills contained food packaging–that was 30 million tons of trash a year. Of course this continues to expand, as we continue to live farther away from our food sources and we supplement our busy lifestyles with processed and prepackaged foods, on-the-go snacks, and microwaveable meals. The EPA defines excessive packaging as “any material that is not absolutely necessary for storing a product, protecting its shelf life, or communicating essential information.” Think about how many products you may have in your pantry or in your cupboards which contain “excessive packaging.” Single-serving containers, heat-and-serve meals and more contain plenty of extra wrapping.
Long ago, before the era of convenience packaging, people had different shopping habits which were more friendly to the environment. Families bought groceries and supplies in bulk, made their meals from scratch, using whole ingredients, and they reused or repaired products rather than simply throwing them away. Precycling is a return to the principles of conservation and waste reduction which were once very strong values. Precycling is a process of making wise purchasing decisions in order to reduce the amount of waste that we generate.
Below are some suggestions for wise shopping:
Select products carefully! At the store, consider the environmental impact of each purchase that you make. What is the product made of? Can it be reused or recycled? Is there a better alternative product or packaging of it? Ask yourself if the product is worth a higher garbage bill or a more polluted environment?
Be picky about packaging! At the store, reach for the product packaged in recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass, and aluminum, rather than plastic. Bring your own bag to the store. Look for the recycling symbol on packages, indicating that the package is recyclable, or made from recycled materials.
Overcome overpackaging! If the packaging isn’t necessary to protect the product, or if it’s just there to catch your eye, buy the less-packaged alternative.
Avoid disposables! Don’t buy products manufactured purposely for automatic disposal such as razors, lighters, plastic plates, etc.
Don’t use polystrene foam (styrofoam)! Vow not to buy it, whenever possible. Ask for paper packaging in take-out restaurants. If you are a regular coffee take-out patron, bring your own thermos or cup.
Buy in bulk! Avoid overpackaging and save money, too. Bring your own container with you to the store. Store brands and generic foods are often less packaged than others.
Speak up! Talk to store managers about your product and packaging preferences. Patronize businesses that offer recyclable products, less packaging, and the choice to buy in bulk. Write or call your state and federal officials to lend support to legislation that favors recycling and reduces unnecessary and non-recyclable packaging.
Reuse things! When you no longer need clothing or household items, share them with a neighbor or consider giving them to charity. Reuse plastic containers for storage, dog dishes, planting seeds, etc. Reuse paper for scratch pads, etc. See how creative you can be in discovering a second use for most of your trash.
Repair things, don’t discard them! By patronizing neighborhood repair shops, you’ll help the local economy.
Select Quality! Buy durable long-wearing products.
Prepare foods from scratch! As often as possible, prepare your meals using whole ingredients. More than likely, most of what will go into a meal you prepare will have much more nutritious value and much less packaging than that convenient, ready-made meal.
Teach children to precycle! Children may be highly susceptible targets for the lure of overpackaged goods, but they’re quick learners and we can teach them to do it right from the start.
(A portion of this segment was taken from an article produced by Cynthia Jobe, UWEX/Columbia County Resource Development Agent.)
In addition to precycling, consider buying recycled whenever possible. The Federal Trade Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency have developed guidelines to help ensure that eco-marketing is clear and effective. There are three main designations to be aware of: recycled-content products, post-consumer content, and recyclable products.
Recycled-content products are made from what would otherwise have become trash. When your recyclables complete that three-phase journey and become a new product, they are truly recycled and can be labeled as such. Recyclable items are reduced to raw materials and used for new products or are rebuilt, remanufactured, or remade by the product’s original company. When purchasing recycled products, look for specific amounts of recycled content, such as 100% recycled paper or 30% post-consumer content. Be wary of vague claims such as “now made with more recycled content.”
Post-consumer content are materials that were actually used by private consumers or businesses. If a product is labeled “recycled content,” it might be made with both post-consumer waste and various reused product materials. An example of this could be something that was damaged during production and is then reused in reproduction along with post-consumer waste. Pre-consumer content refers to scraps or excess materials that are “recycled” internally. For example, a carpet company may take its own remnants and create mats out of those scraps–creating a useful product which would otherwise have become garbage.
Finally, recyclable products are items that CAN be recycled but have not yet been made with recycled material. These are items that the consumer must ensure make it to the recycling after having used or consumed the contents. So, be on the lookout for “recyclable content” which means something very different than “recycled content.”
What does all of this mean for those of us who are consumers? Well, to me it means that we must become more aware of what we purchase–not just from the standpoint of the product we are buying, but also with regard to what it’s made from, how it was made, and how it is packaged. As conscientious consumers, it’s important to look at each item we purchase using the “cradle to cradle” mentality to decide how to get the most use out of a product and to participate in ensuring that what remains can become something new! Instead of shopping with a “what’s in it for me?” attitude, taking on a greener lifestyle means shopping with “how can this help both me and the earth?”
We are the stewards and custodians of our planet. Every conscious and conscientious decision we make can be a step towards the healing of Mother Earth.
