There is a reason the famous Earth Day slogan goes in that order.
Reducing is the best way to save the Earth.
Our privileged nations consume Earth's resources per capita at a rate many times that of less fortunate nations.
Reducing our over-consumption. Why do we need two? Two cars, two homes. Turn your thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter. Our ancestors found ways to stay cool in the summer by adapting to the heat. Taking siestas. Wearing loose linen type clothing. Covering their heads with a broad straw hat.
After reducing, you can work to reuse. I reuse glass containers. I store all kinds of things in them. Leftovers, kombucha, sauces I made. I asked for clothing this Christmas from Goodwill. Happy to reuse beautiful sweaters and shirts that someone didn't need. The clothing over-consumption in the US has created a problem for people trying to get rid of clothing, as the buyers of used clothing in less developed nations work to create their own clothing industries.
Recycling is last. It uses the most energy of the three, so is your lowest priority. Still important. Every bit helps.
Let's celebrate the Earth today and every day!
Photo by Nadiya Ploschenko on Unsplash