We all know that recycling is one of the most important things that we can do for the environment. But what exactly should (and shouldn’t) we be recycling? While some towns make it easy to know what (and where) you should put your recyclables, often the question of what and where to recycle can be confusing.
The following are 5 things you should be recycling but probably aren’t.
1. Aluminium
Almost any local recycling program or recycling centre accepts aluminium, but what many people don’t realise is that aluminium recycling isn’t limited to cans. Anything made of aluminium can be easily recycled, including used aluminium foil, old pie tins, and even aluminium patio furniture. If it’s made of aluminium, it should go in the recycling bin when done.
2. Plastic Bottles
Again, this is typically rather simple as most local recycling programs support plastic bottles. It’s also among the most important matter for you to recycle as plastic can take decades to degrade in a landfill (if it even does). Check with your local recycling program to find out what other plastics you can recycle.
3. Electronics
Many people don’t realise the importance of recycling their electronics, but in fact, throwing your electronics out can not only cause pollution and water-degradation, but it can also contribute to harmful and illegal e-scrap practices in developing nations.
Many electronics manufacturers and retailers have recycling programs where you can turn your used electronics in for proper disposal. Call around before you put used electronics into the trash.
4. Plastic Lids
Most local recycling programs don’t accept plastic lids because the harder plastic lids are made of are harder to recycle and the small lids can clog up recycling machines. However, if you take just a moment on the internet you can find many, many programs that allow you to mail in your plastic lids for recycling. Just keep a bag under the skin, throw your plastic lids into it, and when it’s full, ship them off to be recycled.
5. Wine bottles and corks
Yes, wine corks! Did you know that you can recycle wine corks and make shoe soles? Therefore, the more you cheer the more corks you collect and the more shoe soles you help people make. Just when people thought, that wine was only for drunkards and individuals with ailing stomachs.
Who would have thought that the expensive shoe soles on the store shelves had interesting origins? They are also known to make housing finishes such as tiles, interesting right? As for the bottles, the same applies; the bottles are crushed and manufactured again into new ones, which are used to bottle more wine. Cheers to that.
Recycling is more than just throwing your newspapers into a recycling bin. Learning to be responsible for making sure that goods get turned into post-consumer products is a key to a healthy planet in the future.
We take recycling junk and waste very seriously. Call us today for more about our rubbish removal services and about our recycling schemes!
