Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

There have been measures taken in the past year to curb single-use items, such as Beaconsfield banning water bottles from being sold at city events and retailers, from grocery to hardware stores, encouraging consumers to use reusable shopping bags. These are small steps to keep waste from landfills and even the recycling bins, but there has to be changes made to the packaging of goods before it gets to consumers. Most chain stores offer packaging for pre-priced fruits, vegetables and meats wrapped in plastic and on Styrofoam trays. You also have to wonder about those boxed crackers that are placed in an insert bag which only seem to fill half of the box. ‘Settling of contents’ may occur, it states on the box, but it’s more like settling for more waste. Is all that packaging for four replacement razor blades really the most environmentally-sound choice?

The government should introduce more controls over the packaging manufacturers choose in order to reduce the amount of materials heading to recycling bins or garbage cans. Cutting down on in-store packaging will mean fewer materials to collect, haul and sort. It will make the system more manageable as well as reduce air and noise pollution.

Take-out food is a convenience many people enjoy but the amount of packaging used is a problem for both waste and litter. Reusable or refillable containers, such as for hot drinks, should be promoted as options.

Recycling is an honourable endeavour but it costs taxpayers money. There needs to be more focus on reusing and reducing.