Question

What is the three ‘R mantra’? Write its significance.

Answer 1

Hint: ‘R mantra’ is an efficient method for conservation of natural resources and reducing the amount of waste generated. By this many negative environmental changes can be prevented.

The three ‘R mantra’ are a practice of effective waste management. The objective is to gain maximum benefit from the product and generate a minimum amount of waste.

Complete step by step answer:
The three ‘R mantra’ are Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. They are used to save our environment.
Reduce: This means that we should reduce the use of resources and resources must be used judiciously to prevent misuse. A habit of dropping the practice of wastage of resources must be incorporated consciously in our mind. If we can complete the work with lesser resources, then we should go for it.
This should start from home itself. Water can be saved by checking the leaks, rainwater harvesting etc. Switching to solar energy can conserve electricity. LPG can be substituted with solar cooker etc.
Recycle: This means that resources must be recycled so that we can be used further. This can be done by separating waste materials into recyclable materials that can be turned into something new. We can collect the used and discarded plastic, paper, glass, and metal items and recycle this material to make something rather than buying new materials. Throwing wastes in a recycling bin should be practised.
Reuse: We must use resources which can be reused again. By this we can opt to an environment friendly and economical lifestyle. Some situations where we can reuse are using a refillable water bottle instead of using a new one every day, using lunch boxes, reuse grocery bags etc.

Significance: The impact of careless consumption of resources has a negative impact on plants and animal species. Majority of products that we use daily are greenhouse gases, which increase global warming. Throwing the waste into water bodies affects aquatic life. All this accelerated the global rise of temperature and unpredictable weather conditions. This can cause melting ice of low-lying areas, food shortages, water shortages and rising sea levels. This is a real problem that should be addressed. By the above steps we may make our progress towards sustainable development.

Additional Information:
The seven ‘R’s of sustainable development are reuse, recycle, reduce, refuse, rethink, rot and reuse. Incorporating this in daily lifestyle can make our environment greener.

Note: Global warming is the rise in temperature of the earth surface. The greenhouse gases increase global warming. The major greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.