WHAT GOES INTO THE RECYCLE BIN?

Whilst much of the planet’s waste is dumped into landfill sites, there’s still potential for making the world a better place when it comes to recycling. So, what is recycling? Recycling is the process in which waste materials are converted into new and usable materials, a process that is great for the environment since fewer resources have to be produced. Whether something is recyclable or not depends on its properties. There are a lot of materials out there that are getting recycled and reused every single day.

Many people may be wondering what the big deal is about recycling. It’s talked about a lot, but why is it actually important? Recycling is hugely significant since waste produces a huge negative impact on our environment, including the release of greenhouse gases and harmful chemicals from landfill sites. Since recycling limits the waste that ends up in landfill, less harmful chemicals and gases are released into our atmosphere. It reduces waste, pollution, and requires much less energy in its process. Therefore, this eco-friendly process helps to preserve our natural resources. The great thing about recycling is that it allows products and materials to be used to their absolute fullest extent – and even saves money at the same time! Recycling increases this economic security by reducing the production and use of a domestic source of materials. As you can see from this, recycling has a lot of great benefits to offer us.

So, how can we get started? Now that you know what recycling is, you now need to know how to put this into action! What goes into the recycle bin? Let’s discuss this further…

Plastics

Probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about what can be recycled is plastics. Despite the planet’s call for reduced consumption of plastic, almost all types of this material can be recycled. Plastic is a finite resource, making it quite valuable, so the best thing to do following its first use is to recycle it into a new product to reduce the production of this non-renewable source. It usually says on the label of a plastic product whether it can be recycled or not since company brands are encouraged to educate the public with this information.

Examples of plastics that you can recycle commonly include plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, shampoo bottles, ice cream tubs, milk jugs, and many more everyday household items! Even carrier bags which can be stretched could be recycled in local supermarkets.

There’s no straightforward answer to the question of how many times you can recycle plastic, as this depends on the type of plastic involved. Polymers in the plastic do break down slightly each time it’s recycled, but this can be targeted by mixing it with newer plastic. Many companies have started creating eco-designs for their product's packaging to make them easier to recycle in the long run.

Glass

Glass is very recyclable. It can constantly be recycled with no loss of its material quality, making it a great product for the environment. The process involves melting the used glass and creating a new glass product from it. Glass is not degraded in the recycling process, meaning it can be used again and again, reducing the number of resources used up. Look out for glass recycling that you can do at home – this usually involves glass jars and glass bottles, whether this is wine bottles, spirit bottles, pasta sauce jars, or jam jars. To make the recycling process easier, it’s recommended that you rinse and wash out the bottles and jars before you put them in the recycling bin. This only takes a minute or two and can make a big difference when it comes to helping the planet!

Paper

Paper and cardboard are valuable recycling materials when they are clean. Common paper materials around the house that you can recycle are newspapers, magazines, envelopes, and coffee cups! Recycled paper can then be transformed into new items such as brown parcel paper and paper bags. The amount of times it can be recycled depends on the quality of the paper, although its fibres become shorter each time it goes through the recycling process.

In conclusion, you can see that there are a lot of items to consider putting in recycle bins! Sorting through your rubbish and evaluating the household product materials you buy can make a huge positive impact on the planet. This is by reducing pollution, waste, and energy needed to use up the planet’s precious resources. So, what are you waiting for? Get recycling today!