Reusing means reusing something, preventing it from ending up in the landfill.
You have to go to Latin if you want to find the etymological origin of the verb that concerns us now. And it is the result of the sum of three components of said language:
• The prefix “re-”, which is used to indicate repetition.
• The term “usus”, which can be translated as “use”.
• The suffix “-are”, which was an ending that was used to give form to verbs.
What is reuse?
Reuse is a verb that is linked to using something again . In this sense, the term can be used as a synonym for recycling (which consists of subjecting a product or material to a certain process so that it can be used again).
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) , however, does not include the notion of reuse. It does mention refusing (from the Latin refūsus ), which refers to not wanting or not accepting something .
Benefit for the planet
By reusing goods or products (that is, by reusing them), you are helping the planet. What is no longer used ends up in a landfill , increasing the level of waste. On the other hand, by throwing something away, we are driving the production of a new product to replace it, which can increase polluting emissions.
From the point of view of ecology , therefore, it is always advisable to reuse products. Sometimes, the same use can be made over and over again without the need to undergo any type of process (for example, using a cloth bag for shopping). In other cases, reuse requires certain processes to make the material suitable again (paper recycling). Another possibility is to give the used product to another person, for whom it will be useful (donating clothes or giving a set of dishes).
To reuse paper, it must be recycled by subjecting it to a certain process.
Reuse in fashion
In this sense, we should highlight, for example, the role that the term in question has within the fashion sector. And, fundamentally for economic reasons, second-hand stores have been taking on special importance.
These are establishments where anyone can purchase, at a much cheaper price than what they had at the time, all types of clothing that belonged to another individual. It is, therefore, a way to reuse clothing, footwear or accessories.
How to contribute to caring for the environment
Likewise, on a day-to-day basis we can resort to undertaking endless actions that mean reusing the products or items that we already have, both to avoid making a new financial outlay and to make the most of them. An example of this is that when we print a sheet of paper on one side, it can then be used again on the other side. In this way, there will be significant savings in printer ink, investment in this material and also in paper.
It could be said that, regarding the products we consume, we have three options or steps to follow to collaborate with the environment . The first is to reduce consumption , the second is to reuse the products and the third is to recycle (subject them to a process to give them a new life).
Recycling has become a very important activity in recent years for the environment and a better quality of life.