Reusable vs. Disposable – What is truly better for the environment?
There is a strong movement toward responsible plastic use in Canada which has led many companies to develop alternative products that are either reusable or biodegradable/compostable/degradable. While we are all for the biodegradable/compostable/degradable products, we question the sustainability of more reusable products entering the marketplace. This is particularly true of bags and water bottles.
Reusable items have their time and place – do not get us wrong. When applied in the right ways (which we will explain in this post), reusable products could be immensely important in protecting the environment. However, when used in the wrong ways, reusable products could cause detrimental affects to the environment – diminishing large amounts of natural resources and creating even more garbage.
It is arguable that for many in our society, throwing things out prior to the end of their life, is normal because the next new, bigger and better versions are available. This is the largest concern with reusable products that replace their disposable counterparts. If a reusable product is thrown out prematurely or not used enough times before its end of life, then reusable products actually create greater harm to the environment. This, coupled with the large amount/variety of reusable items per household, validates the concern regarding the sustainability of our current consumption patterns of reusable products.
I, myself have fallen victim to marketing gimmicks that claim I ‘need’ this new reusable bottle/bag/coffee tumbler because it is ‘more ecofriendly’ (or just fancier) than my current one. Although that may be the case, buying that new one to throw out my old under-used item is not environmentally sustainable at all, but marketing sells and so the cycle continues. Eventually, before I know it, I have more reusable water bottles in my house than I have plates. I know that I am not the only one that this happens to. This is not sustainable spending or environmentally responsible.
The same case stands with plastic bags vs reusable bags. How many reusable bags do we have in our homes? Too many. Sometimes we get reusable bags for free with a purchase, adding to the surplus of bags we already own. Then, if you are anything like me, you will end up leaving them in your car or at your house when you shop and consequently need to buy more bags. This is not sustainable. According to a study in Denmark, you would need to use a cotton bag over 7,000 times for it to be ‘worth’ the number of resources used to create it. 7,000 times! That is equal to shopping every day for 19 years and using the same bag to haul your purchases every time. That is a lot of shopping consistency.
So far regarding reusable items we have seen we over-consume then, uses them insufficiently to warrant their natural resource impact and of their lives prematurely turning them into garbage for landfill. Additionally, 99% of these products are not recyclable or compostable. This is where the reusable vs single use (or a few use) plastics debate gets tricky. Here in Niagara, we can efficiently recycle polyethylene, the type of plastic regular grocery bags are made of. Water bottles, Styrofoam and aluminum are also all recyclable here in Niagara through our public curbside collection. Coffee cups from your regular fast-food joint are not recyclable in the Niagara Region system. Here at Davidson Environmental that is not the case, coffee cups are compostable in our waste diversion stream.
From a waste generation perspective, reusable is not better because as stated above, most reusable items are designated for the landfill – unless, of course, you use the item enough to warrant its disposal, but how many times do you need to use it to make it worth it? There does not seem to be a clear answer. Although I do not believe we can necessarily put a value on natural resources, we all know how important they are for us and the environment. Given this, consuming less natural resources per person is beneficial.
Proper disposal is another aspect to consider in this debate. It is clear that single-use plastic items are consistently disposed of improperly. Unfortunately, water bottles, coffee cups, and plastic bags often end up in waterways, oceans, and lakes, affecting both human livelihoods and the animals inhabiting those environments. This is largely due to careless consumer behavior and the pervasive “throwaway” lifestyle. In such instances, reusable items present a more environmentally friendly option, as they are less likely to contribute to constant littering and waste generation in nature.
In summary, there are many things to assess when you buy a reusable item. This assessment often outreaches the span of the average consumer’s thought process. We are not saying that all reusable items are bad or that you should stop using them. Our hope is to provide you with guidelines that help to influence your choices when making your next ‘reusable item’ purchase.
In summary, here are some things to consider:
If you already have reusable items:
- Use them until you can no longer use them (metal items can last for decades!)
- Do not purchase more until you have fully used your current supply (throwing items out prematurely is just a waste of natural resources and takes up space in the landfill – you do not need the next new thing! Yours still works!)
- Look at the company you are purchasing the item from – do they have ethical or sustainable values?
ABOUT US: Established in 1996, Davidson Environmental is a waste haulage and depackaging company based out of St. Catharines, Ontario. James Davidson, Owner & CEO of Davidson Environmental, decided to explore an area of waste management that would be new to the Niagara Region – recycling organic materials through composting. Starting with a trailer and 12 totes at a flower shop, James has built a company that today employs over 50 Niagara region residents and runs 24 hours a day. Although we are a diverse company serving all the waste needs of businesses of varying sizes, we have kept our primary focus on food waste organics. Our service area encompasses the Regions of Niagara, Hamilton, Haldimand, Halton, Oxford, Brant, Norfolk, Waterloo, Wellington, Perth, Huron, Grey, Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex and Toronto. We have 17 trucks, capable of servicing any organic waste disposal need your business may have including Molok deep waste bin collection.
Today, Davidson Environmental is proud to offer a variety of cost-effective, clean, simple and environmentally responsible methods of handling, diverting and disposing of the waste produced by your business in Southern and Southwestern Ontario.