Is it more environmentally friendly to not buy a recyclable item in the first place, or to buy and recycle?

Question

Is it more environmentally friendly to not buy a recyclable item in the first place, or to buy and recycle?

Answer 1

It is better to buy something that is durable than to buy a single use item.  

Answer 2

Whether it is to buy an recyclable item or not to buy an recyclable item,you can still recycle it once again it's used.Recycled item meant that it has once been recycled before,but to buy an new item is a fully new item that hasn't been recycled before.Hence,it's always better to buy a recycled item as such both of them can be recycled once again :)

Answer 3

Buying an item that is made from recycled goods is the way to go.  Most of my green ed I've learned on Planet Green.  It's a new network and my family loves it!  Check it out:

Answer 4

i guess it is better to buy a recycled item... but even if u buy a new item, it still can be recycled...but it only adds on to the stuff which needs to be recycled... so i believe that it's still better to get a recycled item!

Answer 5

Both can be. There are MANY ways to be GREEN and profitabily as well. To see how, check this reference:

http://www.zimbio.com/Cool+Green+Busines...

Answer 6

There are three words, in order, that are important here. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

REDUCE: If you can, don't buy something at all or buy less. As an example, when buying paint, measure your walls to ensure you are buying enough but not too much.

REUSE: To continue the paint example, can you use any excess paint on another project, like the shed or garden furniture? Make sure you use reuseable packaging; buy reuseable bags at the supermarket. Before buying new plastic containers can you reuse any packaging you already have, like ice-cream containers or plastic milk bottles? Also, returning things like deposit bottles to be reused for the original liquid, such as milk or fizzy drinks, are preferable to putting the glass into a bottle bank for recycling.

Only then is it right to RECYCLE!  So if all else fails, pass on the paint to a second use scheme if you can.

Think Global Act Local!