The Three R's of the Environment
Every year, Americans throw away 50 billion food and drink cans, 27 billion glass bottles and jars, and 65 million plastic and metal jar and can covers. More than 30% of our waste is packaging materials. Where does it all go? Some 85% of our garbage is sent to a dump, or landfill, where it can take from 100 to 400 years for things like cloth and aluminum to decompose. Glass has been found in perfect condition after 4,000 years in the earth.
The three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle – all help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills..
Reduce
Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the best way to help the environment. There are lots of ways to do this. For example:
- Is there something else that can be used for this purpose? Using multi-use items is essential to beginning reduction.
- Is this something that needs to be done? A lot of our waste material comes from items that are considered to be “disposable.”.
- Is the item a part of something that you need to do, or want to do in your life? .
Reuse
Use materials more than once in their original form instead of throwing them away after each use. Reuse keeps new resources from being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the waste stream.
- Bring cloth sacks to the store with you instead of taking home new paper or plastic bags. You can use these sacks again and again. You'll be saving some trees!
- Use silverware and dishes instead of disposable plastic utensils and plates..
- Store food in reusable plastic containers.
Recycle
Many of the things we use every day, like paper bags, soda cans, and milk cartons, are made out of materials that can be recycled. Recycled items are put through a process that makes it possible to create new products out of the materials from the old ones. In addition to recycling the things you buy, you can help the environment by buying products that contain recycled materials. Many brands of paper towels, garbage bags, greeting cards, and paper, to name a few examples, will tell you on their labels if they are made from recycled materials.
The Cache is a small sized lock & lock hidden along the Bald Eagle Trail. As always, please use stealth and return the cache to it's original location.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42 05.744 W 83 26.552
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is free.
The Crosswinds Cache Crew pledge to develop and maintain quality and interesting geocaches in the Marsh consistent with Geocaching and Wayne County Parks rules and permit process. For more information on the Cache Crew and our endeavors, please visit us on the web at http://www.crosswindscaching.com and on social media.
This cache has been placed with the permissions of Wayne County Parks. Permit CC18-02 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.