Reduce
Less is More
In a Flash
Milk cartons take 5 years to decompose. Styrofoam never decomposes at all.
Waste: It's rubbish for the environment!
'Reduce' is the first of the 3 'R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). It means to reduce the amount of waste you generate. Reduce can also mean to reduce your energy consumption and water usage.
Burning Questions
What does 'reduce' mean?
Reduce means to minimise the amount of waste you create, as well as to cut back on the amount of energy and water you use.
Why is it important to reduce?
Reducing the amount of rubbish we produce means there's less waste to be sent to landfill and less energy needed to dispose of the rubbish - which is a big thumbs up for the environment.
Reducing the amount of energy we consume means we don't need to burn as much fossil fuel - a major factor in global warming.
Reducing the amount of water we use puts less pressure on this vital resource, particularly with our global supply of fresh water being used up fast.
How can I reduce the amount of waste I create?
Think before you buy it:- Do you really need the product?
- Is there an environmentally-friendly alternative?
- Does it have a lot of packaging? (more packaging means more waste)
- Could you buy in bulk instead?
- Is it possible to reuse the product?
- If you have to dispose of it, could you recycle the item?
How many ways can you think of to reduce household waste?
What about reducing my energy and water usage?
There are heaps of super-easy ways to cut back on the amount of energy and water you use.
From switching off devices and using eco-friendly products to turning off taps and shortening your shower time – we can all take small steps to benefit our planet.
See Reduce Energy Consumption and Reduce Water Usage to find out more about reducing your use.
What Do You Mean?
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Don't let all that water go to waste!
Reduce means to reduce the amount of waste you produce, the amount of energy you consume, and the amount of water you use.
The 3 'R's of Sustainability are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Speedy Summary
Reducing our daily plastic usage will help save our oceans.
Reducing the amount of waste we produce, energy we consume and water we use is an important way to minimise damage to our environment.
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