Earth will only continue to its final destruction. John, the beloved disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ prophesied "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." (Revelation 21 : 1a, NKJV).
Yes, the first earth will soon pass away but its departure should not be hasten. Thus, the Swallow does her part in being environmental-friendly. She recycles - by reusing, reducing and refusing.
Reuse - using old stuff in different ways
- cooking oil which needs to be thrown away can be stored in an old plastic bottle then disposed. A fine way to reuse that plastic bottle, keep your kitchen sink from clogging, use less plastic bags, and make less of a mess. Just make sure that the used cooking oil has cooled to room temperature.
- line dustbins with plastic bags. Save money at the same time.
- the Swallow's mom had often cut off the wearable parts from clothes with enough stains to deem them 'unwearable', and reused the wearable parts to fashion a quilt or children's pyjamas.
- wrap unsanitary items with newspapers before disposal.
- don't buy anything on offer unless it is a need.
- must there be another set of cookware, dishware, etc to be used only for guests?
- must a broken item be replaced by the purchase of another? There may be something in the nest that can be used instead.
- pass on children's toys, books and furniture to newer parents. The same for old-but-still-in-good-condition clothes. Young ones grow so quickly. The Swallow's family was a beneficiary of such goodwill when her young ones were toddlers.
- donate to charity organisations that accepts old-but-still-in-good-condition items.
- sell to shops that buy second-hand items. Receipts of first-hand purchases may be required.
- reduce the use of disposable items as much as possible.
- say no to extra plastic bags. Bring along a shopping bag. The Swallow applauds some departmental stores that have made the move to reward shoppers who bring their own bags, or charge those who chose to use plastic bags.
- politely reject those who wants to pass on their old-but-still-in-good-condition items if there is no need. Better to refuse honestly, than accept grudgingly and then complaining behind the giver's back!
