New Westminster Environmental Almanac (2917 ... - Douglas College

Environmental Citizenship
Environmental Citizenship
64
By Travis Deeter
It’s no secret that the environment needs help, and it needs it fast. And
with New Westminster leading the way in building innovative new
housing developments, more and more people will be coming here,
increasing the amount of stress on our natural environment and industrial
services. Fortunately, there are many things in people’s lives that with
just a small adjustment can make a huge difference to the environmental
sustainability of our city and region.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Yes, we’ve all heard those three words many times, but their importance
cannot be stressed enough. They are the key to eliminating the solid
waste problem currently facing the Lower Mainland.
Reduce:
First off, we can all reduce the amount of garbage we produce by doing
things like:
buy only as much as we need
select items that avoid excess packaging
buy items in bulk to get the most product with as little packaging
buy detergents in concentrated mixes, allowing for minimal
packaging
use Tupperware or plastic containers to hold lunches and leftovers
instead of plastic wrap or tinfoil.
Reuse:
Secondly, we can reuse products instead of throwing them away after the
first use. Some examples: