What’s the difference between Refuse and Reduce here? I always took Reduce to mean using as little plastic as possible, which to m3 would include refusing the use of single-use plastics.
Same with Reuse and Repurpose: Reuse it however you can, regardless of its original purpose.
3 Rs has the rhetoric benefit of being a tricolon, which helps with keeping it concise and memorable.
There’s a reason the saying goes “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
Reducing comes first, then reuse what you can, and recycle what you can’t.
Refuse > Reduce > Reuse > Repurpose > Recycle
5 Rs rule
What’s the difference between Refuse and Reduce here? I always took Reduce to mean using as little plastic as possible, which to m3 would include refusing the use of single-use plastics.
Same with Reuse and Repurpose: Reuse it however you can, regardless of its original purpose.
3 Rs has the rhetoric benefit of being a tricolon, which helps with keeping it concise and memorable.
Refuse: use/buy an alternative
Reduce: if you have to use it (or buy it), use /buy as little as possible / until there’s an alternative
Would you like a plastic bag for your shopping?
Refuse: No thanks.
Reduce: I’ll take just 1 bag and stuff it all in there, don’t need 2.
Repurpose: it’s ok because I’ll use this bag as a bin liner.
Curious. To me, reducing to zero is reducing still, so bringing my own cloth bag instead counts as “reduce” for me.
Thanks for your take, though!
Refuse is the worst possible word to use here, given its alternate meaning.