Three Slightly Different R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse

Over recent years most people have done a good job of adopting one of the three typical R's- recycle. But if we were being completely honest with ourselves we had to do very little to adopt this step. And if we were being exceptionally honest with ourselves we would recognize that the process of producing and then recycling these items uses a lot of energy.

People in general do not want to change their habits and behaviours and recycling gives them the freedom to stay pretty much the same.

There has also been a lot of talk of simplifying possessions. Some people have decided that if one new thing comes into their life, then something has to be removed. This may be great for their home and their life. But have you ever thought about what happens to that item?

One option is that the packaging is possibly recycled into a new product. Another option is to donate this item to a charity. This seems like a perfect solution- give it to someone in need. But let's be perfectly honest. Who needs your old t-shirt? Who needs your Van Halen CD? Who even needs your old shoes?

The most likely situation is that your item will join many many other tonnes of clothes and get sent to be sold in the second hand clothing market overseas. This at least will support the local economy (because chances are the second hand clothing market destroyed the local tailoring industry years ago). And at least the merchants will make money selling it. Worse would be that it arrives and is donated- which brings no money into the local economy and in fact is detrimental to existing merchants.

So is there a solution? Sure. Think very carefully before you add or remove anything from your home. Go ahead and reduce because if you are anything like me your home is probably filled with a little too much stuff. But first consider how you might reuse the item. Second, try to sell it to someone locally to use. Third, consider getting rid of it on freecycle to a person. If these fail, then donate it to a charity.

But trust me it is preferable to give that piece of used clothing to a charity that will sell it overseas rather than hand it out. Why? Because free stuff does little to stimulate the overseas market economy. At least with the second hand clothing industry money starts to flow into and through the local economy.

If you want to donate overseas, then donate your money to purchase local goods. Once again, this means that money starts to move through the local economy supporting local merchants and eventually the benefit gets passed on to other community members.

But as you clear out your clutter, promise that you will start to refuse. Consider the one item in, one item out as a last resort. Don't let people in developing countries pay for your behaviour.