#RefuseReduceReuseRecycle

I continue watching mainstream media denounce the waste and recycling industry in Australia, which I agree needs an overhaul. However, the media portrayal of this industry seems highly unfair and contentiously focuses on the past – the past is past – lets move on and improve from now.  PM Scott Morrison announced a $16M program towards the Pacific Ocean Litter Program. The federal government also announced $20M to boost the recycling industry in a bid to reduce dependence on landfill and create jobs as part of a push to stop Australian recyclable waste being exported overseas. It’s another story that setup of a single materials recoverable facility is likely to cost $20M.

Putting the feds, states and local government strategies aside, how many of us are doing “the right thing” and the right thing is not flattening cardboard boxes and chucking it in the yellow lid wheelies. I believe the right thing is to firstly Refuse to buy or accept products that can harm you, your company and the environment. Use the power of your dollar to tell companies what you want and do not want. Ask the question, “Why are we purchasing this item?” or, “Why do we need this”?

After that, we Reduce, to use less. Could you use less? Reduce the amount of energy you use to heat your facility by getting an energy audit (a lot times for free) and save MONEY in the process. Keep asking the question, “What is the minimum amount necessary?” Why would you wrap a pallet with 50 meters of stretch wrap if 10 meters will do the job?

Reuse something you already have instead of buying something. Replace needing a single use item, with something you can use over and over again.

And last but not least, if the above options won’t work, Recycle. Maybe you missed the opportunity to refuse or reduce because you just weren’t there in your green journey when these purchases were made. Maybe there is no alternative. Recycling is a great way to open your eyes to all that you toss and a chance to rethink your future purchases.

It's all about changing our mindsets and our habits, its not hard – it makes you feel good ??