Confession time: I’m no minimalist. I never have been, and I know I never really will be, though I do certainly have moments when I wish I was. I am, however, a relatively frugal person, and I’m pretty careful about what items I spend money on, what impact their acquisition will have on the planet, and the method by which those items leave our home once that time comes. Without really realizing it, the ‘stuff’ in my life has been ruled by a set of ideals related to the environmental impact of my living habits. 

Conveniently, those ideals or principles have been categorized in a way that can help us make better decisions about material possessions as well as encourage us to lead more sustainable lives. Most of us know the original three of these principles, which are: Reduce, reuse and recycle. Recently, more Rs have been added to this list to help complete the circle of consumerism and waste.  While the exact terms may fluctuate from source to source, the four new ones I will use today are Rethink, Repair, Regift, and Rot. I’ll delve into all seven of them here, adding tips on how you can easily incorporate them into your own lives.

1. Reduce - Refuse: I think this may be both the easiest and hardest tenet to incorporate. Reduce the number of new items that come into your home, refuse to purchase new items, or even refuse to purchase anything overpackaged and over-wrapped. All you have to do is say no to ‘stuff,’ but for a good number of us, that is very difficult.  What would happen if we started asking ourselves if the item we yearn for is a 'need' or a 'want'? Could we save both time, money, and the planet? If you do need an item, consider whether you can spend a little more on a better-quality, longer-lasting item. It usually makes better financial sense in the long term.

2. Reuse: Before you put something in the trash or into the recycling, think, ‘Can this be reused as something else?’. That old T-shirt that has a new hole in it? It inherits a new life as a household rag. Did you find a bag of dried beans that is no longer fit for consumption? Recycling bin filling up with empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls? Both can be used as craft supplies. If it can’t be reused, hopefully it can be regifted, recycled, or composted. 

3. Recycle: There is no easy way around this issue at the moment, so I will say it plainly: our recycling system is in rough shape, and it has been for a very long time. Recycling should be a last resort. That said, metal and paper are still being fairly well recycled, and efforts are being made, in some areas of the province, to make glass more widely recycled. There are also a few places that accept old electronics for recycling, some of the components being of value. As residents continue to voice the need for a more comprehensive recycling system and awareness about the overuse and production of plastic continues to grow, I am hopeful that changes will come. In the meantime, it’s best to reduce the materials that come into our lives.

4. Rethink: I'm a crafty person who enjoys a good many hobbies. I love to read, knit, garden, and DIY just about anything you can imagine. But what is a woman to do when her budget doesn’t line up with her interests? First, rethink whether I really need the ‘thing’. Second, make do with what I have on hand. Third, borrow the thing from a friend, barter for it, or find the needed item secondhand. And finally, as a last resort, buy the item as new. Rethinking how to alternatively acquire an item only takes seconds.

5. Repair: I get extremely excited about the idea of repairing household items. Partly, it’s because I’m frugal, but ultimately, it’s because the concept of planned obsolescence absolutely infuriates me! My partner has successfully repaired a belt and pulley system in our dryer and rewired our coffee grinder. A few years ago, I watched a YouTube video and fixed a water leak issue in our freezer. Recently, I was thrilled to see some repair café events popping up, including one happening soon at a local Pointe-Claire makerspace, FabZone on April 21st. The concept is simple: on a set date, you bring the item in need of repair and experts will help you repair it! It can be a paid service, but sometimes it is by donation. The Pointe-Claire Library ran a similar event about four or five years ago and I was able to get my vacuum cleaner fixed. It may take the same amount of time to fix something as it would to research and shop for a new item. Plus, there is the bonus of possibly saving hundreds of dollars and not falling into the obsolescence trap. Well worth it!

6. Regift: This tenet can apply to actual gifting for birthdays or other special events, as well as just giving away or selling used items. VarageSale, Marketplace, or any other Facebook group offering used items (for free or at a cost) have made it as easy, accessible, and acceptable as never before, especially with the current cost of living, to acquire used items. Low-tech clothing swaps are another fun way to regift gently used clothes to others and to yourself. Renaissance and NOVA stores are local organizations that sell used clothing and housewares. They also accept donations. At this point, I’d also like to give a shout-out of appreciation to all the folks who put their bulk garbage goods out a few days early so my friends and I have time to do a comprehensive drive-by! I’ve acquired many wonderful additions for my garden this way.

7. Rot: In Pointe-Claire we have the option of composting at home or sending our compostable materials into the green bin to be transported somewhere else. This bin can accept some things we cannot safely compost at home, such as meat and fish. The facility that the compost is brought to is able to neutralize pathogens by composting them at high temperatures, something that can be hard to do in a home compost. This can keep up to 30% of our waste out of landfills. Sending organic waste to the landfill instead produces methane, a greenhouse gas, which is a huge problem. Side note: Plain cardboard is great at suppressing weeds in the garden. I’ve used it successfully under a layer of mulch for my garden pathways.

Our ecological footprint lasts much longer than the time we have here on the planet. Imagine the collective impact if we all decided to take a walk in a forest or bike ride with friends instead of making shopping a pastime, or if we decided to challenge ourselves by refusing to buy new clothes for a year, like a good friend of mine did. There is no shame in using items that have been pre-loved or free. Similarly, there should be no shame in gifting something used, especially if you know the recipient will appreciate it. It is possible to change our habits, and ultimately we must, because the Earth has a finite amount of resources. It is our responsibility to treat her accordingly.

Geneviève Lussier is a dedicated educator with a B. Ed. in elementary childhood education, who is not only shaping young minds but also leading the charge for environmental stewardship and community activism. From her family’s household of activists to her passion for crafting and gardening, Geneviève embodies a holistic approach to living sustainably and fostering connections within her community. Whether she’s teaching knitting at the Pointe-Claire library or preserving food from her garden, Geneviève’s boundless optimism and unwavering belief in the power of community shine through, inspiring those around her to embrace positive change and collective responsibility.