Today, as a result of the increase in consumption habits, the concept of recycling continues to gain importance day by day. While the amount of waste material released to nature decreases with recycling, natural resources are protected and energy savings are also provided. So, is it possible to apply recycling at home?
5 steps to ensure recycling in small steps at home:
Garbage separation
Recycling starts at home. When it comes to recycling at home, the first thing that comes to mind is the separation of garbage. Despite this, there is still no conscious action in waste sorting, and this sensitive issue is not taken seriously. One of the most successful steps of recycling at home is zero or near-zero waste.
It is possible to separate waste and recycle it at home by making different waste bins such as glass, plastic, metal, paper and chemicals. Or, plastic, paper and glass wastes can be separated and easily left in the recycling containers on the street corners.
Use ecological products
Recently, there are problems in many parts of the world, especially due to the increase in the use of plastic and equivalent products. In order to overcome this problem, worldwide initiatives continue at full speed. By choosing eco-friendly ecological products, it is possible to contribute to both the protection of nature and the recycling of homes.
In the production processes of ecological products, methods and materials that can harm natural life from production to consumption are avoided. There are ecological alternatives to products in different categories, such as cleaning products, sanitary pads, toothbrushes and coffee filters.
Evaluate the waste
Separated wastes can be reused by various methods and turned into goods. In this way, many materials, items, toys such as flower pots, colored boxes and decorations are obtained. It is possible to turn a glass bottle into a vase or a night light, a plastic waste vase or a flower pot, and any cardboard waste into a toy that will capture the imagination of children.
Generate income by collecting waste
Making money by collecting waste is one of the most widely known and most done jobs. Some income can be obtained by selling wastes such as copper, plastic, pet bottles and iron to recycling factories. The income to be obtained by collecting waste depends entirely on how much waste is collected. Cardboard, plastic pet bottles or paper are the easiest to find and also the cheapest waste.
Support the collection of waste oils
Every 1 liter of waste oil spilled from sinks pollutes 1 million liters of clean water. Hundreds of thousands of tons of waste oil is released to nature every year in our country. However, it is possible to collect oils and convert them into biodiesel. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, which is sensitive to this important issue, answers the questions of the citizens on this issue 24 hours a day through the unit it has set up at the ALO 181 Call Center.
Here is the list of 5 things you can recycle and 5 things you can’t:
Everyone knows you can recycle paper, plastic, glass and aluminum, but some of these might surprise you.
Note: Recyclable items may vary by location, so check with your local recycling center or government agency.
Recycle: Pizza boxes
Even if the boxes have grease in them they can be recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, you have to get rid of any food scraps, including uneaten crusts, and you have to flatten the boxes.
Don’t recycle: Hardcover books
Hardcover books can’t be recycled. The covers are usually made of different materials, including plastic and leather, which aren’t recyclable. The glue that binds the books together can be hard to separate from the pages as well. Besides, why recycle a book when you can donate it to a school, library or a nonprofit organization? Donating books can help people increase their vocabulary and improve their communications skills. Plus it’s a guilt-free way of making more room on your bookshelves.
Recycle: Paperback books
You can recycle a paperback book if it’s beyond repair. Like hardcover books, though, consider donating the book if you want to get rid of it.
Don’t recycle: Receipts
Most receipts are coated with Bisphenol A, a plastic compound more commonly known as BPA. This compound makes the receipts unrecyclable, and it could be bad for your health, according to the Mayo Clinic. The best way to dispose of receipts is in the trash, but you might want to shred the receipt before throwing it away for financial security.
Recycle: Batteries
Lead-acid batteries are one of the most recycled items, according to the EPA. This includes car batteries, too. However, batteries require special handling, so they need to be recycled at separate locations and can’t be recycled in your home recycling bin. This tool can help you find a location to recycle your batteries.
Don’t recycle: Stickers
The glue that holds stickers in place can gunk up recycling machinery, and some stickers, like vinyl stickers, can be harmful to the environment.
Recycle: Carpet
Nearly all kinds of carpet can be broken down and used to make new products, and the complex fibers of carpet make it nearly impossible to break down in landfills. However, the infrastructure required to recycle carpet isn’t widely available, and you can’t put carpet in your home recycle bin. The nonprofit Carpet America Recovery Effort is one group working to put the necessary infrastructure in place to recycle carpet everywhere. For now, use this tool to find a location that will recycle your carpet.
Don’t recycle: Compostable plastics
Even though they’re made from renewable materials like corn, cellulose and soy protein, compostable plastics can’t be recycled. “Compostable plastics aren’t meant to be recycled and can contaminate and disrupt the recycling stream if mixed with non-compostable plastics,” according to the EPA.
Recycle: Motor oil
Many garages and auto shops recycle your old oil when you take your car in for an oil change. If you perform your own oil change, usually these same shops will accept oil for recycling. Like batteries, motor oil should not be put in a household recycle bin. The used material from one oil change is enough to contaminate one million gallons of fresh water, according to the EPA. Use this tool to find a location that will recycle your used motor oil.
Don’t recycle: Wrapping paper
Shiny and laminated wrapping paper can’t be recycled. There is recyclable wrapping paper available, though. The EPA said a good wrapping paper alternative that is recyclable is newspaper. Plus, using newspaper as wrapping paper gives the gift recipient something to read while they wait to open their gift.
Bonus: Aluminum cans
Empty aluminum cans can be recycled, but not crushed cans. The EPA says crushed cans are harder to detect when being sorted within recycling facilities. How dare those shows and movies lie to us all by showing people crushing cans to take to the recycling center.