Jack G.

Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Avalon Regional Heritage Fair

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Original Way of Life

My project looks at how people in the past wasted nothing, reused what they could and used recycling as a necessary way of life.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

I learned that people in the old days truly used everything. Even when they had garbage that would seem useless to us, they still found a way to use it.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I have learned that because people in the past used, reused and recycled everything that they possibly could there was no need for the huge waste management facilities and recycling plants we need today. Perhaps if we followed the example of people from years ago,then we would leave our children a cleaner world than we have now.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

In my life, recycling is something you do to care for the planet. We reuse some things and recycle what we can. However, in the old days people did this out of necessity. They did not have access to large stores and, with large families to feed and clothe, they did not have the money to buy new stuff all the time. We are in a much more disposable society today.