Tips on Recycling
Recycling is a way of dealing with waste and other used materials by converting them into new products. Recycling is a vital element of the waste reduction efforts and is the third factor of the “Reduce. Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy which categorizes waste management approaches according to their benefits in the collective efforts to save mother earth.
Recycling also avoid waste of materials that can still be useful; lessen the utilization of raw materials; decrease the usage of energy; lessen air pollution brought about by burning and water pollution from landfills by decreasing the need for the traditional waste disposal; and decrease greenhouse emissions.
• Practice waste segregation
Set up your home to make recycling simple and trouble free. Maintain separate waste bins or baskets for recyclable materials side by side with your usual waste baskets all around the house. it is less uncomplicated to chuck recyclable materials in a separate basket than it is to delve through the garbage to separate them.
This will also encourage members of the family to participate in the recycling efforts since it will not need the extra effort to search for the recycling bin that may be set in, say the garage or the kitchen.
One area where a waste bin for recyclable materials is very much needed is the bathroom where there are plenty of recyclable materials that can be found such as empty shampoo sachet and bottles, toilet paper tubes, facial tissue and soap boxes.
Other areas in the house that can benefit from a waste recycle bin other than the kitchen, bathroom and garage is the study room or home office.
For organic waste such as food waste, maintain a container or an organic waste tote in your kitchen top and a bigger one underneath the sink. Make sure that the organic waste bin has a lid and properly covered.
• Check if there is curbside pick-up in your area
Most areas in cities have curbside pick-up for recyclable materials. Check with you local public works refuse department what items they are accepting for recycling so that you are properly guided. The usual recyclable items that are accepted are as follows, but some accept more while some accept less:
- Aluminum and steel cans – aerosol cans, beverage cans, food cans
- Aluminum food packaging ( clean) – dinner trays, foil, and pie plates
- Paper – magazines, newspaper, paper cardboard boxes, phone books, office and computer paper, shoe boxes, food boxes, toilet paper and paper towels tubes and more.
- Plastic water and juice bottles
