The Three R's: What are they and how do they work?

Did you know that the amount of solid waste created in one year by everyone in the United States is enough to cover the entire country in a layer of trash? Dealing with this kind of problem requires creative solutions. Many of these solutions fall into one of three categories known as the 3 R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. But what are they and how do they work?

REDUCE: - the best solution: The first "R" is the one that can be the biggest help to our trash problem. Reduce means cutting down on what you buy and use, as well as reducing what you throw away. Ask, "How could this trash have been prevented in the first place?" One answer is to buy items that come with less packaging. When you reduce through what you buy, you are actually preventing trash from being created in the first place. If there is no trash, there is no trash problem. Waste reduction saves natural resources and saves money and landfill space.

REUSE: Re-using things whenever possible is better for the environment than recycling, because when something is re-used it doesn't need to be reprocessed before it can be used again. For example: Paper grocery sacks can be re-used many times. They can be re-used for their original purpose, carrying groceries home from the store, or they can be used for something else. Consider re-use of items that can't be eliminated through reduction. When you choose to re-use, you avoid both the waste generated during the creation of a new product and the waste caused when the product is thrown out.

RECYCLE: Recycling converts used items back into raw materials, which are then used in making new products. "Recycle" comes third, after "Reduce" and "Reuse," because recycling requires new resources for transportation and the manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the economic and environmental benefits are significant. Recycling conserves our resources, reduces waste, and creates about six jobs for every one that would be created by landfilling the same amount of waste.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Project Proposal

1. Identify a need or problem to address: Think about areas where you see a need for waste reduction and/or recycling in your school or community. The problems you find in everyday situations can often be the best opportunities for such a project.
2. Do some brainstorming: Make a list of possible actions that could help solve the problem. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Ask people you know for ideas; brainstorm with a group; include outrageous and off-the-wall ideas; write them all down and don't analyze or criticize any ideas until you've run out of ideas. Ideas could also include a campus education and/or collection projects. Finally, after you've come up with all the ideas you can, start thinking through them and begin narrowing the list.
3. Now choose a solution: Look at the big list and ask these questions:
   • Which ideas are possible to do in the amount of time I have?
   • Which ideas fit the concept of the 3R's - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle?
   • Which ideas will have results I can measure?
   • Which ideas do I like the best?
4. Put together a plan of action: List each step you will need to take to complete your project. For each step decide what needs to be done, how much time you will need, who you will work with, what you will need, and how you will get the things you need.
5. Enlist help: Don't be afraid to ask for assistance, it may be just what you need to design and carry out a successful project.
6. Plan how you will measure your results: Decide what information you will need to show "before and after" changes. It is best to have more than one way of measuring the changes. You could measure the amount of waste you reduced, the number of people you influenced, or the cost savings that could result from your project.
7. Write your project proposal: Project proposals must clearly describe the education campaign that will promote recycling and/or describe the solid waste reduction or collection project that will be implemented at the school or within the community during Earth Month. Your proposal should include the following: the goal of the project, description of the project, how it will be implemented, and a timeline of the project and how you will measure the result of the project.

Arizona Recycling Scholarship Program Application
Instructions on How to Submit:

• Step 1: Read the Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Project Proposal.
• Step 2: Write your project proposal.
  Project proposals must clearly describe the education campaign that will promote recycling and/or describe the solid waste reduction or collection project that will be implemented at the school or within the community during Earth Month. Your proposal should include the following: 1) the goal of the project, 2) description of the project, 3) how it will be implemented, 4) a timeline of the project, 5) how you will measure the result of the project, and 6) must include the name of a faculty sponsor for the project who will oversee the student's work on the project.
  • One student per project proposal - student must write his/her own proposal.
  • Project proposal must be typed in 12 point font.
  • Project proposal should be no more than two pages in length.
  • Submit one original.
• Step 3: Complete the Arizona Recycling Scholarship Program Application and Agreement (also in Word).

The following evaluation criteria will be used:

• Creativity of the education campaign and/or collection project;
• The methodology used to implement the project; and
• Environmental impact on the school or community.

Scholarship Information:

• Up to ten recycling proposals will be selected.
• Two hundred dollars will be provided to your high school for this project. These funds can be used for supplies or other support of the student's project. Any portion of these funds not utilized can go toward materials that support recycling.
• A final report, two to five pages in length, describing the recycling project must be submitted to ADEQ at least one week prior to your graduation. The report should include photos documenting the project, a summary of the project activities, and measured results. The report must also include a statement signed by the faculty sponsor stating that the student performed the project.
• After completion of the project and receipt of the final report, ADEQ will provide a $1,000 scholarship to the student(s) upon receiving proof of enrollment at a university or community college within the state of Arizona. Note: The student's Social Security Number and completion of a W9 tax form will be required. The ADEQ Recycling Program will forward the scholarship money to the student.

See also:
  Arizona Recycling Scholarship Program Poster

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