What are the three “R’s”? This was one of the last questions that I posed to a group of third-graders who were finishing a tour of the Lyon County Landfill. I was somewhat surprised that they could not recall what the three “R’s” were. They remembered that one of the “R’s” is recycling.

While recycling is a very important tool in our belt, it should be used with the others such as reducing and reusing. In fact, we are supposed to be reducing (our trash) first, reusing (what we can) second and recycling what is left over. Of these three R’s, reducing is the most important of them all.

Recently at our landfill meeting, we discussed that there is 50 years left of space to place trash at our landfill. There are other counties who have demolition/construction landfills who have less than 10 years left to place demolition and construction debris at these sites. While I may not be here to witness this event happening, the third-graders that were on the bus with me during the tour, certainly will be.

This is why, more than ever, that we need to pay attention to reducing the amount of waste that each of us have coming from our households and our businesses. We will probably never escape having trash but there are certainly things that we can do right now to reduce waste or reuse some of it.

Tip #1: Use the programs that we have in place right now for our area. The county, along with other businesses, offer ways to alternatively dispose of items such as needles, mattresses, box springs, shredded paper, car seats, rechargeable batteries, clothing, usable housewares, books, usable furniture, rigid Styrofoam and much more. Contact the Environmental Department, your local thrift store, Alter Metal or Habitat for Humanity for more information. When donating, please make sure to follow the instructions and do not bring broken, filthy or infested items to these places.

Tip #2: Recycling right. Do not use your curbside cart or the community-recycling bin for things you do not want. These containers should never be used for garbage. It costs the recycling program more money by using the containers as a trash can. Recycle only what is on our list. To make it easier, remember that only empty, clean food or personal care containers and paper can be placed into recycling containers. Do not go by the triangle on plastic containers because this is not a recycling logo. It only tells us what kind of plastic it is made from. Even if your plastic container has a No. 2 in the triangle but it is an oil container, it is not accepted. Plastic wrap, plastic bags of any kind, plastic toys, or plastic chemical or oil containers are all trash. Plastic wrap and plastic bags can be brought back to most stores.

Tip #3: Reduce some of the waste at your home and start with food waste. One of the largest contributors of methane in the atmosphere that causes climate warming is because of the food we throw into the landfill. Learn how to compost your food scraps and reduce the amount of wasted food that could have been eaten in your home. Freeze uneaten food from your refrigerator after a few days and remember to bring it back out later for a meal. Mark containers when they go into the refrigerator with what the item is and when it was placed into the refrigerator. For more tips go to www.savethefood.com

Tip #4: Stop using single use items such as plastic utensils (forks, spoons, etc.); paper napkins and paper towels; straws; paper or Styrofoam plates; bottles that have water in them (use a water bottle instead); plastic shopping bags; Styrofoam or plastic cups. Instead, look for sustainable swaps such as a water bottle; bring your own eating utensils, reusable shopping bags, reusable straws or cloth napkins/towels.

In addition, the last tip, Tip #5: Buy less clothing and other textiles such as shoes, rugs, towels, blankets and sheets. Try to keep and use clothing, in particular, longer. Buy second hand whenever possible to help reduce the amount of clothing waste in our area. Donate or sell clothing or other textiles instead of throwing them away. When donating, make sure it is clean and if you have old clothes that could be made into cleaning rags, separate them out from the rest of the clothes, letting the attendant know that the container is for rags only.

For more information regarding, reducing, reusing and recycling, call the Environmental office at (507) 532-1307.