Making throw-away go away
Reuse as a solution
I’m Macy Zander, Upstream’s Reuse Communities Policy & Engagement Officer, and I’m here to offer a few tips on what you can do, today, to help be part of the reuse solution to our single-use waste crisis.
Why Reuse?
It’s an unfortunate reality that currently, we live in a “throw away” economy where…
10% of all wood harvested
20% of all aluminum mined
40% of plastic created
and 50% of glass produced
…goes primarily to making single-use packaging that is often consumed in a matter of minutes before it gets trashed, recycled, or littered. This practice justifies the unnecessary extraction of precious natural resources on the front end, while creating significant amounts of waste and pollution on the back end. It’s a system that treats the planet’s resources and the communities that live on the fence line of the extraction, manufacturing, and waste facilities as disposable.
“We’re never going to be able to recycle or compost our way to a sustainable future. We have to work upstream to redesign the systems generating all the waste in the first place.”
If there is one thing we’ve learned at Upstream, it’s that using products for just a few minutes before they become waste is not a sustainable form of consumption for a planet of over 8 billion people and growing. That’s why it’s important to shift the focus away from disposables in the first place and prioritize waste prevention.
I’m sure many of us have heard the three R’s of “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Of course recycling is important, but we need to reorient towards preventing all this waste from being generated in the first place, which is what prioritizing reduce and reuse does. First, we need to focus on eliminating the unnecessary stuff, and then transition the rest to reusable/refillable formats. Once we’ve reduced and reused as much as possible—only then do we need to find the best ways to manage the waste.
As one of our founders, Bill Sheehan, said, “We’re never going to be able to recycle or compost our way to a sustainable future. We have to work upstream to redesign the systems generating all the waste in the first place.”
Shifting to reusables is beneficial for the climate
In our work, we’ve discovered that using reusable over single-use foodware is a win on almost every environmental metric, including lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Reusables always hit a “break-even” point past a certain number of uses where they outperform the disposables, and the benefits to the environment accrue with each additional use past that point.
So how can you support reuse in your everyday life?
While systems-wide change is needed to build an entire New Reuse Economy, there are things you can do today to help build awareness and momentum around reuse.
When you can, use real plates, cutlery and cups at home and when out. Getting coffee at your favorite cafe? Ask for a reusable mug. If your favorite eateries use disposables, encourage them to make the switch to reusables. (Businesses care what their customers think, so kindly share that feedback! Here’s a fact sheet you can offer them.)
You can also remember to always bring your own reusable water bottle and takeaway mug—and own your own reusable containers for buffets and leftovers (where allowed).
Use reusable produce bags and shopping bags.
Shop the bulk aisle or your local grocery store or zero waste store, and try to buy items in minimal packaging whenever possible.
Use package-free or reusable and refillable beauty and cleaning products.
Support reuse businesses that are striving to make packaging a service, rather than a product. If you are curious to know what reuse service providers are in your area, check out Upstream’s Reuse Business and Services Directory.
Progress is reducing the amount of natural resource extraction, energy use, and pollution required for human needs and desires. So most importantly, simply choose to consume less.
Want to do more?
As conveners and facilitators, Upstream supports people across the US and Canada who are working to promote reuse in their own communities, through the Reuse Solutions Network. This network is comprised of hundreds of folks from a variety of sectors, including NGOs, reuse businesses, activists, governments and individuals simply interested in the topic.
If you really want to focus on local level change at the grassroots level, you can organize and start your own community reuse coalition—or join one in your area. There are two dozen already operating across the US and Canada.
There is no handbook for creating a reuse-centric city, but Upstream provides a space for coalition leaders and other groups focusing on reuse to come together, ideate, and share best practices. These coalitions are working to promote reuse as a solution to our throw-away culture, which can take form in advocating for reuse policies, supporting reuse infrastructure, or expanding reuse in specific setting—like making sure all onsite campus dining is on reusables and bringing reusable take out containers to your respective university.
Join us today, and make throw-away go away!