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Action is not the same as focus
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The problem is that the vast majority of recycling is a huge scam. Right now recycling is more symbolic, and just a political talking point. We take the time to separate everything into bins to make everyone feel like they’re doing something, but ultimately it all ends up in the landfill, and only something like 5% is actually recycled. Obviously reducing our consumption, and reusing things are key. But if we actually focused on recycling properly, it would make a difference, we choose ignorance though. >

You're telling me people in the waste management field are of questionable ethics? I'm shocked. >

You're telling me people ~~in the waste management field~~ are of questionable ethics? I'm shocked.
Fixed it for you >

Which popular culture do you participate in? In the UK, the order of the three Rs is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; recycling is last. >

While I appreciate that, I don’t think reduce and reuse get nearly enough attention as compared to recycle >

But they are literally the first two in the mnemonic before recycle. What kind of attention do you mean? What culture are you talking about? >

I get what you mean about the mneumonic- but people's actions skip to the 'recycle' part. There has been a better social movement to reuse with charity shops especially... still 'reduce'-ing a footprint is done last. >

The OP is about popular culture focus, not about people's actions. Reducing via less fast fashion, repairing what you own etc is popular, as is reusing and repurposing rather than throwing away. Charity/thrift is mre reuse than recycle, recycle is like melting down to core elements and then restructuring. >

Peoples actions are reflected by popular culture, and sometimes popular culture informs people actions.
A lot of people jump straight to recycling rather than considering reducing the amount they purchase or reusing what they have already. >

You still haven't specified which culture. People DO reduce consumption and reuse what they have, there are social movements behind both. >

What on earth don’t you understand here? You are being deliberately obtuse. How in the world does the order of the slogan have anything to do with what most people actually do? OP is exactly right that far more attention is given to recycling and recycling programs. And corporate sponsored ads have historically promoted recycling. 
Humans are creatures of convenience. It’s easy to throw a soda can into a different colored bin. It’s quite a bit less practical (impossible in most stores) to bring reusable containers to buy bulk nuts or dried herbs or pasta. It’s also a lot easier to get people to throw something in a separate bin than it is to get them to buy less shit. Thems just the facts of the matter.