The discussions on world crises regarding global warming and climate change have been heating up in recent years. While many still prefer to ignore facts, the truth is that people have done irreparable damage to the world itself, so much so that we are feeling the negative effects as of now.
That being said, you may be thinking of doing your part by recycling, and while that may be the most viable solution right now, you may be confused about certain technicalities, especially when the stuff you are going to segregate does not belong with paper, cardboard, glass, etc.
The fact is that this is not a widespread practice yet, so there is a lot of confusion about what you can recycle and what you cannot. Some of these may be considered puzzling, some may surprise you, and some might just come as a relief.
1. Plastic Bottles
It pays to read the labels on your plastic bottles if you want to recycle them. Most plastic bottles come with a recycling symbol printed on them.
This symbol tells you what type of plastic the bottle is. This includes plastics 2, 4, and 5. Most conventional plastic bottles are made of number 5 plastic.
Leading manufacturers of plastic bottles print the recycling symbol right on the bottle itself. If there is no symbol, then you should contact the appropriate authority to find what kind of plastic the bottle is made of.
2. Styrofoam
Styrofoam is made from number 6 plastic, and it is also known as polystyrene. However, only some types of Styrofoam can be recycled.
While number 6 plastic is usually white, look for the numbers on the outside of the Styrofoam piece, especially if it is not white. Styrofoam containers marked with the number 6 have to be thrown in the rubbish because they cannot be recycled.
If the number is not readily visible, then check the bottom because this could be the number indicated there.
3. Bleach
You may be surprised to know that only a few types of bleach are recyclable. According to the EPA, only chlorine-free bleach is recyclable.
Residents who participate in the recycling process can recycle their chlorine-free bleach by pouring it into a clear plastic bottle. Once the bottle is full, place it in your recycling bin.
This type of bleach is usually marked with a green leaf or a green cap. If the cap or the leaf is blue, the bleach is not recyclable.
4. Glass
Glass is one of the most recycled waste items in the world, and this is thanks to the fact that it is pretty easy to do. Glass bottles are made up of sand, the main component of which is silica, a mineral that can be recycled in many different ways.
This means that glass bottles can all be reused while they may not all be recyclable. Even if the glass bottles cannot be reused, they can still be recycled.
As long as a bottle is made from an acceptable material and does not have any labels or stickers on it, the bottle can be recycled.
Glass is usually recycled by manufacturers who put it through a process that turns it into a new glass product. Others send it to a plant where it is melted down and made into new glass products.
5. Rubbish Bags and Wrappers
Most people may not be aware of this, but most plastic rubbish bags are recycleable.
While you can use them for your rubbish, you can also use them to recycle food scraps and paper products. The plastic is typically made from number 2 or number 4 plastic.
The process of recycling rubbish bags varies. In some cases, you can simply collect the rubbish bags and take them to your local collection point.
If you do end up with a number 2 or a number 4 plastic bag, you can simply put it in the recycle bin. Some rubbish bags may have a recycling number printed on them, and these bags can be recycled as well.
Wrappers are also recyclable. Most wrappers are made from number 4 plastic, and you can send them to your nearest collection point, or they can be recycled at home.
Some Helpful Tips on How to Recycle Properly at Home
a) Create Some Space for Your Junk Mail
Junk mail is one of the biggest sources of paper waste in the United States. The good news is that you can recycle it. The bad news is that most people don’t recycle it.
Since the volume of paper is so large in the United States, many people don’t have the storage space to keep it all, so they throw it in the regular rubbish.
The good news is that there are many ways to deal with this waste, and the easiest way is to create some space for it. If you don’t want to receive these mailings, ask not to receive them.
b) Look for a Local Collection Point
You don’t need to join a mail-in recycling program. You can simply find a local collection point and drop off your recyclables there.
These collection points can be found in most grocery stores and supermarkets. They will accept any type of recyclable waste, and if you don’t have a car, you can use public transportation to reach their location.
c) Create a Space in Your Kitchen
You should check the recyclable waste in your kitchen and get rid of single-use plastics. You should also create a space to store your recyclable waste.
Make sure that this space is visible and easy to access. You can use your kitchen waste bin to store all of the recyclable waste.
d) Find the Right Bin
You will need a robust recycling bin that you can use to store your recyclable items safely.
The bin must be large enough to hold all of the waste, and it needs to be sturdy. Make sure that you can easily reach this bin when it is full.
If you are going to contribute to a local collection point, you will need a sturdy bin, or it will be too heavy to manage.
Conclusion
The fact is that the world is facing a number of problems that are affecting the environment and causing a lot of damage to it.
Many of these problems involve resources that we use on a daily basis, and we need to trim down on our consumption if we want to save the planet we call home.
While recycling is the most viable solution, for now, the fact is that you will have to do a lot more than that to figure out just how to recycle the waste that you have.
The information provided herein can give you a good idea of what is recyclable and what is not. It is always a good idea to discuss this with a professional, so make sure that you discuss your plans with someone experienced before you start.
If you are looking to hire a skip in Cheshire, UK, look no further than our services here at Enviro Skip Hire. We welcome customers to come and tip their waste with us at one of our two sites to ensure the safe and secure disposal of your rubbish. Call us today and let us tend to your recyclable rubbish pile in no time!
