According to statistics, an average person will contribute to nearly 100,000 pounds of waste during their lifetime, resulting in environmental problems such as contaminations, landfills, and resource-diminishing. Therefore, all of us should play a part in preserving the environment by recycling as much as possible. Thankfully, these days, recycling has become easier than ever. This article will discuss some tips that can make recycling even easier for you and encourage you to play your part in improving our habitat.
Contents
- 1 Tip 1 – Reduce and Reuse
- 2 Tip 2 – Take Small Steps
- 3 Tip 3 – Study Your Refuse Provider’s Website
- 4 Tip 4 – Place A Bin in Every Room
- 5 Tip 5 –Purchase Recyclable Toner and Ink Cartridges
- 6 Tip 6 – Recycle Food
- 7 Tip 7 – Recycle Water
- 8 Tip 8 – Recycle Tech Products
- 9 Tip 9 – Buy Recycled Products
- 10 Tip 10 – Continue Learning!
Tip 1 – Reduce and Reuse
While this first tip does not exactly appear to be a part of recycling, it will help make your recycling endeavors more efficient.
When you reduce the number of materials you use and reuse items instead of chucking them into the bin, you will minimize the chances of becoming overwhelmed by the number of recyclable goods.
In other words, reusing and reducing will enable you to stay on top of the recycling situation.
Tip 2 – Take Small Steps
Many people who decide to recycle feel like they have to go all-in from day one.
While this enthusiasm should be very much appreciated, trying to do too much too quickly soon transforms that enthusiasm into stress and frustration.
It is better to permit yourself to start small. Please educate yourself about a particular aspect of the recycling process and start implementing it regularly before moving on to another one. Moreover, these baby steps will help you to integrate recycling into your everyday life seamlessly.
Tip 3 – Study Your Refuse Provider’s Website
Since we are learning about recycling, the refuse provider’s website will probably have comprehensive information about items that can be recycled. The website might also detail the things that are or are not suitable for your specific containers. Generally, paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and plastic can be recycled.
Certain refuse providers even have smartphone applications that make it easier to access the above information.
Tip 4 – Place A Bin in Every Room
Unfortunately, most families restrict their household recycle bins to a certain location within the house (the kitchen, usually), while all the other rooms are neglected. As a result, many recyclable materials end up in the trash cans and go to waste.
Placing a recycle bin in the bedroom, for instance, will allow you to collect items such as magazines and product containers. In contrast, bathroom bins can be used for packaging, empty product containers, toilet paper rolls, and even pill bottles.
Tip 5 –Purchase Recyclable Toner and Ink Cartridges
According to statistics, approximately eight cartridges are discarded every second in the United States – a total of 700,000 cartridges a day. Avoid this wastage by purchasing recyclable toners and ink cartridges.
Tip 6 – Recycle Food
Recycling food is known as composting, but the idea is the same. Remember that landfills are bursting with methane, and organic matter is the biggest source of the dangerous gas. As per the United Nations Environment Program, one person wastes 20 pounds of food on average over a period of one month.
You can purchase or prepare a recyclable bin for composting. However, if you end up with a large amount of food waste, you might want to check with your city to see if a curbside pickup option is available. Usually, commercial compost facilities accept dairy items, plant-based goods, and meat. If you plan to compost within or close to your house, it is best to stick to plant-based items to prevent the smell and avoid attracting animals to your yard.
Tip 7 – Recycle Water
You do not always have to let used water go straight down the drain. There are several ways to recycle water, from pouring it into a plant bed to altering your plumbing that will allow you to use greywater.
Greywater is water used for a single purpose, such as washing, cooking, or bathing. You can use this water to support your garden and lawn, keeping the area clean, green, and fresh without consuming any additional water.
Tip 8 – Recycle Tech Products
We earlier mentioned that our landfills are bursting with methane – well, that is not the only thing they are bursting with, unfortunately. In this technology era, you will also be able to find landfills containing items such as disused cellular phones, computer systems, printers, televisions, and more.
So, before you reduce your obsolete tech products to the trash can, contact a couple of local electronic stores to see whether they offer any recycling options. You might be able to get credits in exchange for certain items, or the stores might put you into contact with companies willing to assist you. Many manufacturers often accept unwanted items that they can refurbish or use as parts in other products.
Tip 9 – Buy Recycled Products
Buying recycled items not only means that you are advocating for greener corporate practices and letting companies know that eco-friendly products are important to you. Moreover, if you buy products made from recyclable goods, there is a better chance that you will be able to recycle them further once you are finished consuming them.
Tip 10 – Continue Learning!
At the end of the day, we cannot know everything, and there is no shame in that. We accumulate a wide range of products across our lives – from electronics to plastics – and they all have special recycling instructions or dedicated drop-off centers.
It is important that we keep learning and educating ourselves to better contribute to a greener and healthier planet for ourselves and our future generations.
