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Why Reuse Is the Real Game Changer

In a world where convenience often leads to waste, adopting a mindset of reuse is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to you can reduce your environmental harm and keep waste out of landfills. Plus, by reusing items, you can save money and time.

How can you incorporate reuse into your daily life?

Below, I'll share some practical, easy-to-implement habits that will help you embrace reuse and cut down on waste. I'll also share some examples of how I've applied reuse in my life.

Start with What You Have

Before buying anything new, take inventory of what you already own. Can you repurpose old jars for food storage? Use scrap paper for notes? Refill a bottle instead of buying another plastic one? The easiest way to reuse is to extend the life of what you already have.

Taking Care of What You Already Have

Taking good care of your belongings is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce waste and extend the life of the items you already own. Regular maintenance, proper storage, and timely repairs prevent unnecessary replacements and keep things in use longer.

For example, cleaning and conditioning leather shoes can prevent cracks and prolong their lifespan, while maintaining and cleaning appliances ensures they function efficiently for years. Even simple habits like washing clothes at lower temperatures and air-drying instead of using a dryer can prevent premature wear and tear.

Repair Instead of Replace

We often throw things away because they’re slightly broken, but many items can be easily fixed. For example, you might:

• Sew up a hole in your clothes instead of discarding them.
• Repair a broken chair instead of buying a new one.
• Take your electronics to a repair shop instead of replacing them.

Swap, Share, & Borrow

Not everything needs to be owned. Consider alternatives to owning items or buying new items:

• Clothing Swaps – Host a clothing swap with friends or find one in your community.
• Library Membership – Borrow books, movies, and even tools from local libraries. Depending on where you live, you might have access to a library of things where you can borrow tools, equipment, or even toys.
• Rental Services – Instead of buying tools you’ll use once, check out local rental options or, better still, ask family, friends, or neighbors if they have one you can borrow.

Buy Second Hand

Not everything needs to be owned. Consider alternatives to owning items or buying new items:

• Clothing Swaps – Host a clothing swap with friends or find one in your community.
• Library Membership – Borrow books, movies, and even tools from local libraries.

A great way to reduce waste and your overall impact is to buy second-hand clothing. Pre-worn clothing is good because it reduces textile waste and extends the lifespan of garments. It also offers affordable and unique fashion choices while supporting a more ethical and circular fashion industry.

Online platforms like Preworn.com make it easy to for you to browse and purchase pre-worn clothing from the comfort of your home. They stand out from other second-hand websites because they buy in bulk, sort the items, and sell them directly, rather than acting as a middleman for resellers. This approach allows them to offer a wide variety of clothing options at affordable prices.

Visit Preworn

Before You Buy

When I want something new, I always ask the questions listed below. More often than not, I talk myself out of buying it either because I didn't really need it or I can solve the problem another way. Before you make your next purchase, take a moment to consider:

• If you really need the item at all.
• If you have something you already own that will do the job?
• Can you borrow or rent the item from someone?
• Or, if you can get it secondhand?

The Benefits Go Beyond Sustainability

These actions can help you to:

• Save money. Remember, you save the most money when you spend nothing.
• Avoid clutter. Many things you buy today will simply end up in your cupboard and become something you need to dispose of later.
• Connect with people and your community by visiting local libraries, repair cafes, or borrowing from others.

Some ways that I've chosen to reuse instead of buy new:

• I use the small aluminum tins that my favourite lipgloss comes in to carry moisturizer and cleanser when I travel. They're just the right size and help me travel light.
• Instead of buying purpose-made containers for my coffee, tea and sugar. I use old jars.
• Instead of buying a new dog bed recently, I bought some secondhand fabric at a thrift store and replaced the top fabric to give it new life.

What have you recently reused? Reply and let us know!

What I'm Up to

I'm excited to announce that I’m currently working on a new e-book all about reducing waste at home! This guide will be packed with practical tips, real-life examples, and simple actions you can take to make a meaningful impact without feeling overwhelmed. From the kitchen to the bathroom, the shed to your shopping habits, this book is designed to help you cut down on waste in ways that fit your lifestyle.

I'd love to hear from you—what topics or questions would you like to see covered?

JUST HIT REPLY AND LET ME KNOW!

What's On

Earth Day - The theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. Read more here.

USA - Come See Recycling in Action - This May, recycling facilities across the US are opening their doors for Recycling in Action, a nationwide open house allowing the public to see first-hand how recyclables are sorted and processed so they can become valuable new materials.

UK and Europe - Festival of circular economy - three dynamic days of virtual live streams and in-person connections diving into practical insights and inspiring use cases from the built environment and textiles sectors—two of the most resource-intensive industries.

What I'm Listening to

I recently listened to an excellent episode of the RI Science Podcast featuring Mike Shaver on sustainable materials. In the interview, he offers a well-balanced perspective on plastic packaging, its purpose, complexity, and what achievable sustainable solutions might look like. Here's the link.

Catch Up On Recycling

The waste created by memories: can photos be recycled? Read article

Can You Recycle Aerosol Cans? Read article

Don't forget to grab a copy of my book! It would make a great Christmas Present. It's available online and in stores at most good bookstores. If you've already got your copy, please leave a review so others can find it. ​Learn more here.