3Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

More and more people are becoming aware of the threatening issues our earth is facing today. It is the responsibility of each one of us to contribute to this noble cause of safeguarding our mother earth.

I have tried to list a few things following which may help in creating a greener world, thus creating a healthy and happy future

3R's- How to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

1. First and foremost, buy and use less! buy only what you need and use all of what you buy. Think before buying any product.

2. Extend the life of a material. Find alternative use of it. Think twice before discarding it away

3. Producing new items from recycled material takes less energy and resources than making products from brand new materials, thus exploiting less of natural resources of the planet. Buy more of recycled items

4. Say NO to junk mail! Call toll-free numbers in unwanted catalogs and ask to be removed from mailing lists. Whenever possible, use the Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogs, stock reports and other information that usually comes to your house in a paper format. Reducing paper reduces waste.

5. Avoid creating trash wherever possible. when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance), buy products with the least amount of packaging. Every little bit of trash avoided does make a difference!

6. Refuse store bags. Everybody knows this, but very few follow this. When you buy one

or two items at a store, ca

rry them out in your hands; or take a reusable bag with you to carry the items.

7. Share things like books, magazines, movies and games with your friends

8. Take washable cups and plates

instead of disposables. Even if you use disposable plastic cups, plates, utensils, and plastic food storage bags, don't throw them away! Wash and reuse them -- most of them will last for a long time with many us

es. You will not only be helping your environment, but your pockets will thank you too!

9. Stop ripping the paper off gifts! If you remove the wrapping paper carefully, you can use it again, and there's nothing wrong with doing just that!

10. Use Rechargeable batteries whererever pos

sible

11. Use the emptied jars as handy contain

ers, as vases, spoon stand or pen stand

12. Start a garden. Food that you grow yourself does not have to be "processed" or "packaged", and no fossil fuels are needed to get it to the store and then to your house.

13. Start a compost or v

ermiculture to transform your

household garbage (food wastes, vegetable left outs etc), into a rich fertilizer to plants.

14. Reuse envelops, wrapping paper, one sided blank papers wherever possible. Avoid fresh paper to take the printout of not so important documents. Printer misprints can become great to-do-list scratch papers

15. Gift a sapling instead of buying some expensive useless gifts

16. If you have indoor plants, water them with leftover or unused drinking water and water from cooking

17. Shoe boxes can be turned into herb planters o

r file storage

18. Start carpool in your community if possible

19. Educate your children about the importance of being economical and the importance of 3Rs

20. Cell phones can be

recycled, parts can be re-used or the whole phone refurbished.

There are close to 5000 Nokia recycling points globally, each taking back mobile devices and accessories. In India, Nokia has laid out a robust recycling infrastructure across the country with over 1300 recycling bins installed at Nokia Care Centers, Nokia Priority Dealers and Nokia Concept Stores.

Find your nearest recycling point at Nokia Care Center, Nokia Priority Dealers, Nokia Concept Stores.

21. Used televisions can be donated to various charitable organizations, hospitals, homeless shelters, orphanages. Many places delivering new televisions will take away the old to donate or use for parts

22. Try to buy products/containers made from recycled material as often as possible to support the recycled product market. When purchasing paper products (toilet paper, etc,), look for paper that has been recycled using a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste.

23. Make extensive use of your local library,

24. Install a drip irrigation system to water your plants more effectively

25. Whenever possible, keep lights off during the day. Encourage family members to get in the habit of turning off lights when they leave a room (taping small reminder notes to light switches can help).

26. Commit to planting and maintaining a plant/tree. Plant a sapling on every occasion at home, bdays, anniversaries...etc

27.Use the stairs instead of the elevator when you have to climb couple of floors

28. If a recycling program has not already been started at your company, start one yourself (or improve the program already in place)

29. Soap water used for washing clothes can be used to wash the veranda or corridors.

30. Commonly recycled business items:

• Office paper
• Magazines and catalogs
• Newspaper
• Cardboard
• Aluminum cans
• Plastic bottles
• Toner and ink jet cartridges and other stationary

31. Rotate or post memos rather than making multiple copies of them (if available, use voice mail or e-mail

32. Encourage your employees and colleagues about the energy consumption (switching off computers, light, fans when not in use)

33. Complete simple tasks by hand, rather than using electrical appliances

34. It is wise to switch to Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as they use only a third as much electricity as a standard incandescent bulb.

As i always say, Spread the word, Save earth!