Most varieties of plastic may be effectively recycled and converted into usable goods. For instance, Amazon sells recycled pens for customers who don’t want to buy new, and recycled furniture is immensely popular with homes. On the other hand, disposable items are the worst when it comes to recycling. They’re so simple to dispose of that many people don’t think twice about it. Luckily, this is changing in 2022, as the public embraces recycling to reduce the usage of landfills (or at least slow it down).
Here are five throwaway items that the public wants to recycle more this year.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags that can be recycled are distributed by most UK supermarkets and other high-street retailers. They’re thinner and unique from the thicker ones available for purchase, resembling canvas.
Plastic bottles
Plastic bottles exist in a variety of forms, sizes, and applications. The most common plastic bottles are used for transporting water or fizzy drinks (after being washed out at the sink). These are constructed of a different type of plastic that is more malleable and easier to recycle.
Milk cartons
The milk jugs and the bottles but not the Tetra Pac – are also made from materials that can be fully recycled. They don’t look like the usual plastic bottles, but that’s because they’re a different type. Again, rinsing out any milk remnants is a good idea before disposing of them.
Plastic straws
Plastic straws are less common on the high street nowadays. Instead, they’re provided in pubs, bars, and restaurants to be used when drinking a beverage. This is due to the extensive amount of plastic being washed into the sea by animals and plastic straws being the most common item found in the stomachs of sea creatures – causing them to die eventually. Plastic straws are easily recycled and do not need to be burned.
Disposable cups
The disposable cups made from paper are often seen on the high street with the previous plastic versions. However, they’re a bit harder to recycle as there aren’t as many recycling centres out there to take them, so the public is keen on reusing them instead.
Plastic Pens
When broken down, plastic pens such as those made by Bic or Pilot are recyclable. For example, the plastic tube of a Bic pen may be recycled, but the inner ink tube and the nib that contacts the paper cannot. Similarly, the outer plastic tubing of a Pilot gel pen is recyclable, but the metal tip must be unscrewed and removed along with the ink tube and other non-plastic pieces.
Are the Benefits of Recycling Worth the Effort?
Recycling is critical if we are to protect the Earth for future generations. It is beneficial to the environment since we create new items from old ones that are no longer useful to us. If rubbish is not recycled, it may have a harmful influence on our environment in various ways.
1. Recycling contributes to environmental protection.
Manufacturing new materials from raw materials necessitate extraction, which includes mining, quarrying, logging, and refining and processing of raw materials, all of which cause significant air and water pollution.
Recycling minimises the demand for all of the items mentioned above since producers do not need to seek new materials because they may reuse old ones to build new ones. It not only saves energy but also decreases greenhouse gas emissions, which aids in the fight against climate change. Current UK recycling saves more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year, comparable to removing 5 million automobiles off the road.
2. Recycling reduces pollution
When recyclable items are thrown away, they can be broken down by bacteria in the landfill, which releases harmful toxins into the air. The waste which is not biodegradable can stay in the landfill for a very long time without decaying, which means it can release harmful chemicals in the soil, groundwater, and wastewater.
Recycling can reduce the amount of waste that has to be buried. Also, it prevents the release of dangerous chemicals.
3. Recycling helps you save money
Recycling is a win-win situation for everyone. The manufacturers can save money by not buying new raw materials, and you can save money by recycling. By recycling, you are also helping manufacturers to produce better quality and cheaper products as they do not have to spend so much on producing new raw materials.
4. Slow down global warming
Today’s fast-paced lifestyle has undoubtedly contributed to the problem of global warming. If the world continues to produce waste the way we do now, the rate of global warming will only increase, resulting in climate changes and natural disasters such as floods, drought, and even famine. Recycling can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions as recycling often requires less energy than producing new raw materials.
5. Tackles Youth Unemployment
If the UK recycles more, it will produce more green jobs. The waste management sector has high job potential, and the UK waste management alone offers around 100,000 jobs. This is why it is good to encourage the UK’s young people to take this industry up as an employment option. This can be done by educating them to be in a position to make an informed choice. It is important to note that companies need to be trained on using recycled materials in the production of new products.
Conclusion
Instead of throwing away Eco-friendly products, we should take advantage of the fact that they can be reused. It is essential to understand that our society is not too developed to be consuming so much. We have to consider our environment at all times to ensure that we make the world better for our children and grandchildren. If we do this now, there is a greater chance of them enjoying the world we live in now.
Enviro Skip Hire are providers of Knutsford skip hire and waste management services, along with a range of other offerings. We’ve been providing prompt, reliable service for many years throughout Staffordshire and beyond, providing our domestic and commercial customers with the help they need when clearing out their premises. We offer a range of skip sizes suitable for all domestic and commercial projects, so whatever you need, our team can help!
