3R - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Reduce, reuse and recycle - three words that when repeated often, should stick firmly in your mind. But how many people actually act according to the principles of 3R? Some of us do not even bother to put a bottle into the bin, not to even mention the plastic recycle bin. Our environment is suffering now and the later we start acting to help it, it will just get worse. Some might say, just let the scientists or environmental guys to save planet earth, we cannot do anything; this is just another irresponsible nonsense that one can possible say!

Saving the environment is not as easy as ABC, but by following the simple 3R, we can at least contribute a little bit for the planet. Do remember the impact of butterfly effect, every little makes a different! When you start doing so, people will notice it and start doing the same if you are able to influence them. You do not have to prepare a sales pitch or a long lecture to persuade people; just do what you believe in, people will believe in it too, eventually. No matter where you are, at home, at your office, outside the street, be a role model, your kids and friends will follow.

The following are some useful, simple tips that all of us can adopt:

Saving energy at the office and home

* Set the air conditioner thermostat at 24 to 26 degree Celcius to promote the use of natural air.
* Switch to energy-saving light bulbs.
* Switch-off lights and appliances when not in use.
* For those with rooms, open the blinds to allow natural light into the room.

Saving water at the office and home

* When washing dishes, only turn on the tap during rinsing.
* Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
* When showering, set the water temperature to medium or low to save energy.
* Wash clothes on full load and use cold water for the rinse cycle.
* Take advantage of sunny days to dry your laundry.

Saving paper at the office

* Only print when necessary. Print only the final copy. Do your editing online.
* Print on both sides of the paper.
* Use recycled paper to print drafts.
* Choose to print two pages per sheet (for Word documents) or handouts for presentation slides.

Recycling tips

* Be responsible for your waste. Separate paper, plastic and glass and place them in the respective recycling bins.
* For paper, make sure you remove the staplers or clips before placing them in the bin.
* For plastic, make sure the non-plastic labels on the bottles are removed before placing them in the bin.

Spread the words. By telling other people and helping them to get started, we increase the savings that can be made. Also get your children involved - if we can educate them early, they will grow and appreciate waste-reduction and will be able to apply these skills in later life. Help protect the environment.