Green Acts: Back to Basics

From the moment we entered school, our teachers have already planted in our minds the concept of 3R's. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. And from then on, everyone has kept on repeating these words. It became so popular that it has been a universal knowledge for the longest time. But in those long years that have spanned, have we truly put these into action? Pretty basic words, and yet they're the toughest to implement.

What do they really mean? Reuse of course means that you do not throw right away something that can still be used. If you can reuse something 10 times, for example a plastic bag, then that means you decreased exactly 10 bags that could have made their way to our landfills, or more commonly, to our drainage systems. But eventually, after a substantial amount of reusing, this single plastic still makes its way to landfills. Never the less, Reusing serves its purpose on reducing waste production. Now let's look at Recycling. Its far different from reusing because the material that should have been thrown is reprocessed to make a new one. Examples of these are paper made packages. Compared to plastics which degrade after ~80 million years, and polystyrene packaging which neither degrade at all nor can be advised to be reused, these biodegradable materials provide the best temporary alternative. Why did I say temporary? This is because it still isn't the best solution. With recycling, we still continuously consume and produce waste products. They still accumulate and still rely on the process of degradation. Furthermore, these still make use of natural resources. Now lets look at Reduction, by mere definition, it already targets consumption and production. This is why it is the ideal solution. No consumption, no waste production. For example, you make it a point that you dine in than take-out your food, that is reduction, you did not consume any type of packaging nor produced one.

Well, currently, only a few are able to practice any of these. Which means that most of us end up contributing to garbage being dumped in already overflowing landfills, which eventually necessitates us to search for another landfill. And the cycle goes on. The most common things you'll find are the famous polystyrene (styro) food packages, plastic cups, styro cups, pet bottles. And these are what most of us hold everyday, every break-time, all brand new, waiting to join yesterday's package.

If one will take time to observe what is actually happening, the number of fast foods proliferating everywhere, the side by side convenience stores, the number of schools catering to canteens and franchised stalls, malls filled with food chains, and every food stall that you can think of - all of them make use of disposable packages prepared specially for the busiest person on earth. These then, particularly polystyrene packages wrapped snugly in a plastic bag - both of which being non-biodegradable, are handed over the counter, every hour, every minute and every second at a very fast rate. And yet, no one seems to mind. Let's ask ourselves - what has been causing us calamities for the longest time? What has been worsening the effects of typhoons and even the simplest rainfall? Do we still really need to ask these?

The common dilemma that I see, is that not everyone actually knows what CAN be done. That everyone can actually do something to help. Go look for environmentalist articles and probably what you'll see are the existing problems and of course a call to action. Go visit eco-centered websites and you'll find a list of steps, but some are vague and some are not actually applicable to everyone.

If I can recall correctly, it was my elementary teacher who taught me the simplest step on helping the environment. That is to pick up every trash that I see, and put it in the correct trash bin. Maybe it would be good if all us can return to elementary and start practicing AGAIN the simplest acts they have long taught us.

For most of us who now live busy lives, keeping up with the hustle and bustle, we may not actually find the time to pick up that candy wrapper we just stepped at. But there are simple but meaningful actions that we can insert into our daily routines. For example, not everyone actually knows that by simply bringing your own lunch box, you already reduce 3 of the polystyrene packages accumulating everyday in trash bins. Not everyone knows that by simply refusing plastic bags, because one can hold by hand what he/she bought, already decreases the risk of clogged drainage systems. Not everyone knows that by merely bringing your own cloth bag in the market, you already reduce 2-6 plastic bags blocking canals or waiting to be dumped in landfills. Not everyone knows that by bringing your own water bottle saves 4 PET bottles from joining those in the trash can or those that are already floating somwehere else. Not everyone knows that by simply bringing these three basic weapons, you already create a big impact in saving earth.

Sounds too cliche, but it is what it is. You are in fact doing it so you and everyone else can still live in this lonely planet. One may find it futile to do, maybe because, not everyone is as inspiring to make a change, but if you do understand the reason why we should start changing, why people should start acting, and that in fact a lot of people are willing to help too, then by all means spread the virus. Enlighten your seatmate, officemate and everyone you can think of. Tell them that simple acts amplified will create a big impact.

Visit these links to start making a change.

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