Why do people ignore the reduce and reuse part?

[tygrss]

I just need to vent.

I keep coming across people who are pleased as punch that they recycle (and I'm glad that they do as well). However, when you mention reducing the number of disposable products to begin with and/or switching to reusable products they look befuddled, as if it's the strangest concept ever! For instance, it seems obvious to me that using a Kleen Kanteen or similar product makes more sense than going through 100 plastic water bottles per month and then recycling them (if you even remember).

Surely I'm not the only one who has come across this.

[Jojo F.]

It bothers me too. I made some mama cloth and my MIL asked what I was making, when I told her she gave me the weirdest look ever and then said, "That's disgusting!!"

She didn't hink it was that disgusting when I made cloth wipes.

My IL's also refuse to stop buying the plastic water bottles even though we have a Brita and reusable water bottles. It baffles me.

They also think I'm crazy because I save all of the galss food containers and reuse those as apposed to buying more disgusting plastic containers. Arg, they frustrate me beyond belief. If you can't tell we live with them:

[sunnysandiegan]

I have been saying this for YEARS (about 15 now)! The saying goes: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE...in that order. Sometimes I want to scream it out loud! LOL

[lilyka]

For some people recycling is a huge step on their journey. I try not to judge where people are in their journey. I just hope they are growing. In the mean time i keep banging my drum and encouraging them to take the next little step. every little step is a step closer. So if they are proud of their recycling I am proud to. But then I would gently encourage them (trying to find a specific easy example) to take one or two more steps into the reduce and reuse lifestyle.if they can handle the next managable step they are that muych closer to what seemed disgusting or imposible and it starts to seem a litle less gross or a little more doable.

[jadekat]

Originally Posted by lilyka

For some people recycling is a huge step on their journey. I try not to judge where people are in their journey. I just hope they are growing. In the mean time i keep banging my drum and encouraging them to take the next little step. every little step is a step closer. So if they are proud of their recycling I am proud to. But then I would gently encourage them (trying to find a specific easy example) to take one or two more steps into the reduce and reuse lifestyle.if they can handle the next managable step they are that muych closer to what seemed disgusting or imposible and it starts to seem a litle less gross or a little more doable.

I agree! If someone would've told me a year ago that I would be trying to go green I would've laughed in their face. Every little bit helps!

[AllieFaye]

Here, here! I've been on the three Rs for years, but I feel like the only one. Even amongst other committed recyclers, I get crazy looks for my dish towels, cloth napkins and so on. I'm so happy to see this thread.

[tygrss]

Originally Posted by AllieFaye

Here, here! I've been on the three Rs for years, but I feel like the only one. Even amongst other committed recyclers, I get crazy looks for my dish towels, cloth napkins and so on. I'm so happy to see this thread.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't expect people who are just starting to think about or ease into being green to be gung ho about the first two "R's". If they are starting out with recycling only that's great! However, people who I know that have been recycling for years, have a hybrid/scooter, etc, but who look at me as if I've grown a tail and two horns on my head irritate me. You'd think that cloth diapers, cloth napkins, etc wouldn't seem so foreign to them.

Glad I'm not alone here.

[Earthy Mama]

In my area, I'm usually the go-to girl for all things "green". So when people ask me about recycling-someone once asked how to do it...I give them a brief explaination-take it to one of the million centers we have in our town, separate and dump. Then I tell them that they should think about going a step further and reduce the amount of waste they have from the start. You know the drill. It thrills me that people are wanting to know what to do and any bit of extra info. I can give helps.

I actually got one lady to start composting-she thought it was gross at first, but now, 2 years later, she does it!

[4clothkiddos]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't expect people who are just starting to think about or ease into being green to be gung ho about the first two "R's". If they are starting out with recycling only that's great! However, people who I know that have been recycling for years, have a hybrid/scooter, etc, but who look at me as if I've grown a tail and two horns on my head irritate me. You'd think that cloth diapers, cloth napkins, etc wouldn't seem so foreign to them.

I sort of eased into the whole mentality too....sort of like the frog in the pot of water. Poor froggy! Years ago, I would have jumped out. Now I'm just stewing away.

[littlelessons]

Originally Posted by 4clothkiddos

I sort of eased into the whole mentality too....sort of like the frog in the pot of water. Poor froggy! Years ago, I would have jumped out. Now I'm just stewing away.

I had never heard of this but found it unnerving so I checked snopes.com and thank goodness, it's not true. The frog would hop out of the increasingly hotter pot. *whew*

But I get what you're saying about a changing viewpoint on recycling!

[Neth Naneth]

I agree that I know recyclers that don't pay attention to the reduce/reuse concept. I have hope that those will become equally popular some day.

[4clothkiddos]

I had never heard of this but found it unnerving so I checked snopes.com and thank goodness, it's not true. The frog would hop out of the increasingly hotter pot. *whew*

I hate to think about who actually tried it out to see if the frog would jump!

Ok, so I'm off the subject a bit...sorry

[leila1213]

How about someone who does the first 2 R's, but not the last? :

There was a really good "mainstream" article about water bottles that I found helped change a lot of minds about bottled water. I'll see if I can find it. Here it is: http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/20095510/from/ET/

The other thing that kills me about buying bottled water is that these same people - at my office, mostly - swim in chlorinated swimming pools and drink coffee that is not made with filtered water(not to mention vaxes & mercury fillings). It's just so ironic.

[BlessedOne]

I debate about this type of thing in my head sometimes. For instance, should I get the 24 pack of toilet paper or should I get the 12 double roll. I would recycle the tubes they come on....so maybe I should get the ones that has more because then more would be recycled or maybe I should buy the double rolls to promote less tubes being needed (and maybe the company would go to just less tubes). The way I look at it in regards to bottles.....they are going to be bought and used anyway....it might as well be by someone that is going to recycle them. I personally feel the environment gets helped more (in some ways) by recycling than reusing.
I would rather buy bottled water and recycle the bottle than buy filters for a brita container that to my knowledge can not be recycled.

thats my take on it

there are two sides to everything and manytimes there is good and bad on both sides

[PikkuMyy]

The double rolls are always better because it means less cardboard tubes AND less plastic packaging since less tubes means less packaging space needed. And then you don't have to change them so often!

[BlessedOne]

Originally Posted by PikkuMyy

The double rolls are always better because it means less cardboard tubes AND less plastic packaging since less tubes means less packaging space needed. And then you don't have to change them so often!

true

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by tygrss

I just need to vent.

I keep coming across people who are pleased as punch that they recycle (and I'm glad that they do as well). However, when you mention reducing the number of disposable products to begin with and/or switching to reusable products they look befuddled, as if it's the strangest concept ever! For instance, it seems obvious to me that using a Kleen Kanteen or similar product makes more sense than going through 100 plastic water bottles per month and then recycling them (if you even remember).

Surely I'm not the only one who has come across this.

I agree, it really seems like there is so much emphasis on the recycling part. Maybe because recycling makes $$ for people (meaning, its an industry) whereas reducing and reusing do not, so they are more invisible in our consumption-driven world. Also, of the three, recycling seems to demand the least of us in terms of changing our habits.

What befuddles me are folks who spout the "three R's" but only apply them in terms of plastic, glass, and paper. What about not buying a bunches and bunches of cheaply made clearance rack clothing that you don't even need? What about buying recycled (used) items for your home when possible, or not celebrating the holidays with a bunch of disposable decorations and junk toys? Or not buying a few things from the $1 section of Target at every visit.

sigh . . . I am far from perfect and I'm sure some of my habits would befuddle other people, but the OP really raised a good point.

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by BlessedOne

I would rather buy bottled water and recycle the bottle than buy filters for a brita container that to my knowledge can not be recycled.

I have to disagree with you there. Not using in the first place (ie reducing) is 70% more efficient than recycling. I can not see how bottles and bottles and bottles of WATER that has been trucked around the country can even compare to one little filter that you replace every few MONTHS. You know it takes energy to recycle, right? And, it's still plastic once it's been recycled. It's still made from petroleum. I'm just kind of befuddled by your statement.

[Boobs]

Originally Posted by leila1213

I have to disagree with you there. Not using in the first place (ie reducing) is 70% more efficient than recycling. I can not see how bottles and bottles and bottles of WATER that has been trucked around the country can even compare to one little filter that you replace every few MONTHS. You know it takes energy to recycle, right? And, it's still plastic once it's been recycled. It's still made from petroleum. I'm just kind of befuddled by your statement.

:
Less is more.

[tygrss]

Originally Posted by aprons_and_acorns

I.

What befuddles me are folks who spout the "three R's" but only apply them in terms of plastic, glass, and paper. What about not buying a bunches and bunches of cheaply made clearance rack clothing that you don't even need? What about buying recycled (used) items for your home when possible, or not celebrating the holidays with a bunch of disposable decorations and junk toys? Or not buying a few things from the $1 section of Target at every visit.

.

GREAT point!!! ITA!