Reuse

What does Reuse mean?
The Waste Hierarchy shows that the second best way to deal with your waste is to Reuse. Reusing waste means using an item again, without making it into a new product first. You can reuse an item for the same purpose, or for a different purpose. 

Why is reusing waste a good thing to do?
Reusing your waste:

• Saves the Earth’s natural resources.
• Saves energy and reduces the risk of climate change.
• Reduces the need for landfill.

How can we reuse waste?
There are lots of ways that you can reuse your waste at school. Here are some examples:

• Reuse a bottle of water by refilling it with more water to drink, or by filling it with something else, like paint for an art project. 
• Reuse wrapping paper or posters to cover your workbooks. 
• Reuse by borrowing books from your school or local library instead of buying new books. 

Another good way to reuse waste is to buy recycled products as alternatives to non-recycled products. You can buy pencil cases made from recycled car tyres, pencils made from recycled plastic cups, or rulers made from recycled polystyrene packaging.

Next time you are getting some new stationery for school, look out for recycled products. A list of shops and websites that sell recycled products can be found on the Reuse page of the Staff Section for your teachers, parents, or guardians to browse or buy from.