Ever wonder why the three Rs are listed the way they are?  Is it because it's the order that rolls of the tongue best? No a little more thought (or strong coincidence) went into it, the three Rs are listed from best positive environmental impact to least. Recycling is great, but we should all reduce and reuse first... here's why.

Reduce: The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn't buy.  We need to start exercising conservation more and stop buying things we don't actually need. (Also See: 'Energy Efficiency vs. Conservation' & 'Stuff!')

Reuse: Sometimes you need to buy things, granted. But try to at least make it something you'll have for awhile. It seems like everything is replaceable now -- disposable floor sweepers, mops, toilet cleaners, face-cloths, and diapers. While they are convenient, look at how saving a few minutes harms our planet. Nobody's time is worth that much.  If we're serious about cleaning up the planet let's all pick up a good old, reliable, reusable broom. (And say NO to Swiffer!)

Recycle: It's last on the list for a reason! Recycling beats the heck out of sending things to a landfill but it's still big business and an industry that creates waste, uses clean water and consumes fossil-fuels and electricity. Lugging all that old plastic and metal around and then making it into new plastic and metal sends tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every day.

The three Rs are a great tool to teach anybody how to live greener.  But from now on, let's put them to use as they were meant to be used to achieve the highest positive impact on the environment.  Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.