Reuse vs Recycle

What is the difference between reusing and recycling? Are they the same?
This entry is prompted after two discussions, one with my Man and one with my now "Green Mentor". My GM has a product that eventually, I will discuss in much further details... but as we are currently still "dating", those blog entries will occur in the near future.
Either way, he found a product that we sell that isn't eco-friendly, however, in his manufacturing process, they can use over and over, vs a paper product that allows for a one time use. His point to me... which is extremely valid and I agree 100%... is that it may not be eco-friendly from the start, but it is how you use it and what you do with it that really matters.
Recycling is extremely important, as is reusing. There are many products out there that are fabulous, for instance, dryer sheets... which I have discussed before. They are far from eco-friendly. Yes... one dryer sheet... whatever... but hundreds of thousands? Now there is something to think about. Think about the amount of loads of laundry you might do in one week. For a family of three... it is feasible, with all of your sheets, towels, and a four year old who doesn't quite get it... that you could do about 4-6 loads IF you are lucky. It's terrible... but it's reality... and there you are left with four-six dryer sheets.
If you have fine hair, like I do... you are forced to accept two different realities... you either have to use a hair product which is neither good for your hair... nor your body... nor your pocket book... or one simple dryer sheet.... so you choose the dryer sheet. So what do you do with that dryer sheet? They do dissolve over time, but still... knowing that it got more than one use before it went to the waste bin is a more gratifying feeling.
Reusing is just as important. So it may not be recyclable... but if you can use it more than once... then it has been recycled. Recycling simply means that a product has more than one life. So whether it is a dryer sheet used as a Swiffer Duster or a try-on footie used as a filter for staining furniture... the more uses the better. And that... is your ability to have less of an impact on the environment. And that IS what it is all about! Reuse... Recycle... Either way... give it a second life... third life... fourth life... Keep it going!