What Are The 3Rs ?
Reduce – to avoid waste at source so as to minimise the quantity of waste that needs to be treated or disposed of
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​Reuse – to use an object or material again, either for its original or similar purpose, without significantly altering the physical form of the object or material
Recycle – the process of transforming waste materials into reusable form which may or may not be similar to the original product.
3R practices encompass all measures that minimise the amount of waste disposed of. The preferred waste management practice is to reduce waste at source, i.e. to prevent waste from being generated. Where waste generation cannot be prevented, other options such as reusing the item(s), followed by recycling of the waste should be considered.
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Reference:
National Environment Agency 2020, accessed 1 October 2021, <https://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/our-services/waste-management/3r-guidebook-for-schools.pdf>