Quiz: How Well Do You Reuse? by Green Goes Simple

By Andrea Kasprzak for Green Goes Simple

Reusing is a key component of the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). But how well do you do it?

Take this quiz to find out if you’re a single-use junkie, a quick-tosser or a savvy re-user who breathes new life into everything that crosses your path!




1.  How do you hydrate after a serious sweat session?

A.  Swing by the vending machine and purchase your favorite bottled water

B.  Slurp up free H2O at your gym’s drinking fountain

C.  Reach for the beloved reusable water bottle you lug everywhere

2.  How do you get your groceries home from the store?

A.  Plastic bags, or whatever’s available
B.  You always ask for paper
C.  Your own adorable, reusable tote bags



3.  You hit the grocery store without your reusable totes. (Hey, it happens!) Now, what to do with all those paper bags?

A.  Destroy all evidence! You personally deliver the bags to the dumpster
B.  Fold them up and stack them in the closet with the other bags you never use
C.  What can’t you do with them? Store old magazines, wrap gifts, line wastebaskets … the list goes on!




4.  You’ve moved on from last season’s trends and are looking to lighten your wardrobe. What do you do with your old clothes?

A.  Pitch ’em: You can’t stand to look at bubble hems a second longer!
B.  Drop them at your little sister’s apartment: College kids appreciate hand-me-downs, right?
C.  Get crafty with ’em: Last year’s sweater will make a perfect scarf and those torn jeans are begging to be transformed into shorts




5.  You’re hosting a party. To prepare, you:

A.  Stock up on party favors like plastic cups, paper plates and matching napkins -- there’s no way you’re doing dishes after this
B.  Buy disposable plates, cups and utensils made from eco-friendly material like bamboo
C.  Decorate the table with compostable items like fruits and flowers, break out your favorite dishes and assemble an enthusiastic dishwashing team

6.  How do you bring your lunch to work?

A.  You buy it every day -- they know your order by heart at the corner deli
B.  In a trusty brown bag
C.  In reusable containers that hold everything from salad dressing to sandwiches



7.  Faced with leftovers after dinner, you:

A.  Dump them in the trash
B.  Pop them in the fridge … and promptly forget about them
C.  Turn them into tomorrow’s lunch

8.  You’re ready for a new computer. What will become of your old one?

A.  You’ll donate it to a homeless shelter or school
B.  You’ll give to a computer-less friend
C.  You’ll recycle it

Mostly A’s: Single-user AbuserYou may be a reusing newbie, but you can start making simple changes
today. Tug a tote to the grocery store (keep them in your car or by the
front door), spend a day antique-shopping with your mother or just aim
to give household objects a second chance before throwing them away.

Mostly B’s: Middle-road Reuser

You’re eco efforts deserve to be applauded! Still, there’s always new ways to make a difference. (Check out the EPA’s site for information on local recycling options.) Challenge yourself to make

small changes in your lifestyle -- try getting crafty. Take a sewing class to learn how to revise your wardrobe or decorate a space with spiffed-up vintage finds.

Mostly C’s: Repeat DefenderTwo green thumbs up! You’re blazing the eco-friendly trail and doing more than your part for the planet. But don’t stop here -- strut your reusing stuff for your friends and family and inspire them to use things more than once, too.

I am happy to report that I am mostly C's with a few B's sprinkled in.
What is your Reuse score?

Thank you to  Green Goes Simple for the sharing of articles with Over Coffee-the green edition