Turn ‘America Recycles Day’ into Zero Waste Day and Re-Use It Week

Recycling is great, but it’s not enough. We need to reduce the amount of stuff we buy even if it is recycled. And we need to stop feeling like throwing all that stuff away is ok, just because it can be recycled. (Lloyd Alter makes the argument more clearly than I over at Treehugger.com. )

So today, in honor of America Recycles Day, yes, please recycle what you can. But don’t use recycling as an excuse to buy stuff that shouldn’t even be manufactured any more, like throwaway water bottles, disposable though recyclable corn-based “paper” plates, napkins and cutlery from fast-food restaurants, and recycled paper towels. Use the day to take stock of what you’re recycling, and figure out what re-usable item you can replace it with. Reuseit.com will link you to durable products you can use in place of your throwaways.