The Three Rs
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle are the three words to remember in waste management. Everyone of us is a waste manager. The choices we make affect us and our environment, whether at home or on the lake. By following the three Rs, you as an Ohio boater can make a difference.
Reduce
... the amount of materials you use in your boating activities. For example, use less detergent. According to Consumer Reports magazine, manufacturers recommend more detergent than necessary. Another example would be buying products that are not over-packaged. there are hundreds of ways you could reduce your waste. A little forethought can go a long way in helping the environment.
Reuse
... items whenever possible. An example of reusing would be to store used turpentine or brush cleaners in a safely sealed container. By allowing the clearer portion of turpentine or paint thinner to ""decant off" which causes the dirty portion to settle, you facilitate the reuse of these solvents more than once before disposing of them properly. You could also cut the tops off plastic containers with handles to use as bailers, or seal the containers and use them when extra flotation is needed. Again, there are hundreds of reuses for items. Share reuse ideas you have with other boaters, together we can make a difference.
Recycle
... all possible materials. Materials such as paper, steel and aluminum cans, plastic, cardboard, chipboard, antifreeze, motor oil, glass, and many other items are renewable resources. By recycling these items you not only save resources, you save valued landfill space and energy.
Materials that can last hundreds or millions of years in the environment can be recycled and reused many times over. A glass bottle with an unknown degradation rate can be recycled into a new glass container using 100% recycled glass.
Recycling also saves energy. making a new aluminum can from a recycled can takes 95% less energy than producing one using new materials.
If these products are simply tossed into Ohio's water, they take years to decompose. Paper takes 2-4 weeks to decompose; a tin can, 100 years; an aluminum can, 200-500 years; a plastic six-pack ring, 450 years; a glass bottle takes more than 500 years; and styrofoam decomposition rate is unkown.
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