Reduce, Reuse, Repair

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How to take action

• Buy good quality items. This doesn't always mean more expensive, though it often does. Research brands and specific items. If it's good quality, the additional money spent up front will be worthwhile in the long run.
• Buy secondhand. This is a great way to extend the life of a product. You also save money, and often make unique discoveries. Bicycles, furniture, dishes, books, and clothing are particularly good items to hunt for secondhand, but you can also shop secondhand for building materials, houseplants, tools, and bathroom and kitchen cabinetry.
• Keep things in good repair. Regular maintenance, cleaning, and proper storage go a long way to having things that work better, look better, and last longer. You save money by purchasing less often.
• Learn some new skills. Buy a set of tools and learn basic repair and maintenance. It's a great way to feel independent and stretch your dollar.
• For repairs that are too challenging to do yourself, get to know reliable repair people. A cobbler, a seamstress or tailor, bicycle and car mechanics, and other fix-it people are valuable contacts. Ask around or do some internet research for talented repair people in your area.
• Borrow or share. This is a great way to reduce consumption, save money and meet the neighbours. Borrow items that you only need occasionally, such as a chainsaw, tuxedo, extra chairs for a special event, hedge trimmers, and so on. For items you need regularly but only for small periods of time, consider sharing. A lawnmower is an example – many lawnmowers spend most days sitting in the garage or shed. Why not share a mower with the neighbours? Agree in advance on the maintenance schedule, storage, and how to split costs, then share away. Consider a cooperative ownership arrangement with a friend or group of neighbours. If you start with something small, it becomes easier to build up to sharing more things, like a car.
• Rent items you use infrequently. If you can't organize to borrow or share, renting something you'll only need once or on a rare occasion will save environmental resources. It also saves you money and the hassle of maintenance and storage.

Why it makes a difference

• Manufacturing, shipping, and retail require a lot of energy and other resources. By reducing the number of new things you consume, you reduce your contribution to pollution and depletion of finite resources.
• Quality products are more effective to work with and they last longer, which reduces resource use and pressure on landfills, as well as the frustration of having a broken or poorly made item.
• Sharing equipment and other items cooperatively is a great way to develop relationships among neighbours – probably the most important ingredient for building community.

For more information

• Find tips on living more simply.
• Want to find out more about car sharing? Check out Car Sharing Canada and refer to the tip about car-sharing in these guides.
• The Shared Tool Co-op has great information and ideas for tool cooperatives.