Archive for the ‘Recycling Information’ Category

What are the benefits of recycling?

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Recycling has a lot of benefits that can help people and save the environment as well. Its importance can be observed in many different ways. Here are some great reasons why recycling is important:

Recycling Saves the Earth

Recycling different products will help the environment. For example, we know that paper comes from trees and many trees are being cut down just to produce paper. By recycling it, we can help lessen the number of trees that are cut down. Products made from raw materials that came from our natural resources should be recycled so that we can help preserve the environment.

Recycling Saves Energy

It takes less energy to process recycled materials than to process virgin materials. For example, it takes a lot less energy to recycle paper than to create new paper from trees. The energy from transporting virgin materials from the source is also saved. Saving energy also has its own benefits like decreasing pollution. This creates less stress on own health and our economy.

Recycling Helps Mitigate Global Warming and Reduce Pollution

By saving energy in industrial production through recycling, the greenhouse gas emissions from factories and industrial plants are lessened and the use of fuels that emit harmful gasses during production is also minimized. Recycling non-biodegradable waste (rather then burning it) will contribute a lot to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gasses that depletes the ozone layer.

Recycling Reduces Waste Products in Landfills

are mostly composed of non-biodegradable waste which takes long time to decompose. By recycling, we can lessen the waste materials that are placed into landfills and we are able to make the most out of these materials. If we don’t recycle, more and more garbage will go to landfills until they all get filled up. If that happens, where will the rubbish be placed? How would you like a land fill in you backyard?

Recycling Helps you Save Money

Recycling provides ways to save money. You can sell recyclable materials to organizations that are willing to buy it. Using products that are recycled lessens expenses. Products that are made from recycled materials are less expensive than products made from fresh materials.

At home, you can recycle biodegradable waste like eggshells, vegetable and fruit peelings and use them to fertilize plants. By doing a little research and getting creative you can save money and trips to the market while being kind to the planet.

As the population of the world increases recycling is becoming increasingly more important. Our technologically advanced societies are creating more and products and packaging that look good and are indestructible, but can take centuries to break down.

In order to combat the rise of factors that are produced by non-environmentally conscious groups, it is up to the growing numbers of individuals and companies that want to inhabit a healthier planet to make a difference.

Easy tips for home recycling

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

Recycling paper, plastic, glass, and other items is an essential part of making your home greener. Implement these easy tips to quickly sort, store, and transport your recyclable items. Going green has never looked better!

If you have space in a garage, utility room, or mudroom, set up a full-featured spot to sort and gather all items that can be recycled, reused, or returned. Combine stackable containers and label each container with the intended item so everyone in your family can sort as they go.

Find out how to properly dispose of batteries, light bulbs, electronics, strong chemicals, aerosol containers, and paints in your area. Consult your local waste management service’s website for details. Collect these special items in one container until you have enough to make a special trip.

Find a basic recycling bin that you like then purchase at least three so you can sort recyclable items in style.

If you’re responsible for transporting your recyclables to a center, rely on plastic stackable recycling bins. Label each with stickers or permanent marker and fill with items until recycling day. Be sure to choose containers with adequate lips to prevent contents from spilling out, as well as ones that are small enough to comfortably lift when full.

Mulitfamily recycling challenging but rewarding

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Multifamily recycling is considered a challenge; however, it is possible for communities to establish and maintain successful recycling programs given the right tools and resources.

A successful recycling program can be defined as one that achieves a high diversion rate, state or local goals, collects multiple types of recyclables, and makes recycling accessible to more people.

The path to success starts with the following tips:

Since residents rely on property managers to educate them, be sure to distribute move-in fliers/pamphlets in addition to quarterly or annual instructional fliers. If there is a recycling ordinance in your jurisdiction, notify residents that it is required to recycle. If not, promote environmental stewardship by asking residents to conserve natural resources and to take responsibility for protecting their community.

All communal recycling bins should be clearly labeled. Signs with photos of recyclable and non-recyclable items are extremely helpful.

High performing recycling bins educate their employees and maintenance staff on the do’s and don’ts of recycling. Their motivation and commitment directly correlates with resident participation.

Communal recycling bins should be placed in busy areas (near the pool, mail room, leasing office, or gym). User friendliness and attractiveness of the containers are also things to consider.

Generally, 90-gallon carts provide enough room to store recyclables and allow for easy collection. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that at least 3 containers per set-out will allow for adequate sorting while decreasing contamination.

Single-stream or commingled collection is an easy way to increase participation because all recyclables can be mixed together. At a minimum, glass, cardboard, plastics #1-7, and aluminum should be collected. The more materials collected means a higher potential recycling rate, but some hauler restrictions may apply.

Doorstep valet recycling programs can also help streamline the process.

Finding the right Home recycling bin

Friday, September 21st, 2012

Finding the right Home recycling bin is not as easy as it first may seem. The most familiar Home recycling bins are the Curbside Recycling bin and the Rollout Recycling Container. In addition to these popular choices you will find an assortment of space saving Stackable Recycling Bins and aluminum Can Crushers and Containers that will involve every member of the family in your recycling efforts.

What a gift we give to our children and their planet when we teach them to recycle in the early years. In some cities you need a recycling bin for each type of recyclable product. Most larger cities are moving to one source recycling containers. No matter your system it is beneficial to each family member to have a part in the sorting or taking the recycling bins to the curb every week.

The right recycling bin will fit in with your design goals as well as make practical sense. Whether you need something that looks good in the home, is conveniently located, is affordable — or all of the above – there is a recycling bin solution for everyone.

Once you determine what you are recycling, make a decision about where in the home it is best to keep your recycling bins. While it makes sense to keep a recycling bin out of view because of aesthetics, will people really walk all the way to the garage to dispose of their can? An alternative is to find an aesthetically pleasing recycling bin and there are many attractive models to choose from.

Important reasons to recycle

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

recyclingRecycling reduces the amount of energy needed to create a new, similar product. If we didn’t recycle paper, more trees would have to be chopped down, transported, and manufactured into the finished product.

This reason why you should recycle is a very important one, as energy conservation is one of the key ingredients for the fight against climate change. Tied in with energy saving, is the reduction of pollution as a result of manufacturing processes becoming more efficient.

Any reduction in CO2 or other harmful gases is not only a key ingredient for the fight against climate change, but a key ingredient for cleaning the air we breathe.

If we can reduce pollution levels from the manufacturing industry by a significant level, this could have a positive impact on our health.

The more we recycle, the more we can help to reduce the burden on local and national landfill sites. As population levels increase, we will need to find more landfill sites, which will harm the surrounding environment and wildlife.

This is another important reason why we should recycle more, in order to reduce the impact landfills have on the surrounding environment.

Recycling saves energy, reduces greenhouse emissions

Saturday, August 25th, 2012

Recycling has a significant positive effect by reducing the amount of energy needed to make products from new materials. When recyclables go to the landfill, more materials must be mined, harvested or refined to replace the discarded item.

These are energy-intensive processes, and recycling removes these steps entirely, producing energy savings. For example, making an aluminum can made from recycled materials requires only 5 percent as much energy as making a can from virgin materials.

While energy savings aren’t as dramatic for other items, in all cases products made from recycled materials require less energy than those made from new, according to the EPA.

Energy savings also mean fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change. The EPA reports that in 20011, 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions were eliminated through recycling more than 7 million tons of metals, equal to taking almost 5 million cars off the road in a single year.

In the case of landfills, diverting materials to recycling also decreases greenhouse gas emissions. Landfills produce gases consisting of about 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide, and are the third largest source of human-produced methane in the US.

Teaching children about recycling

Monday, August 13th, 2012

Children are thrilled to learn about recycling, and they have probably already heard something about it from school. It is important to involve your children in recycling at an early age. Remember, habits that they form now will stay with them the rest of their lives.

Children may not understand the importance of cleaning or replacing air filters on your air conditioner unit but they can easily understand the importance of turning off unneeded lights, unplugging appliances when not in use, and purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs.

Explain to your children in an age-appropriate manner what conserving energy means and then have them help you to think up ways to achieve it. You may be surprised at how enthusiastic they are.

A 6-year-old may have a great conservation idea you’ve not yet even thought of. If your children are involved with the brainstorming and planning, they will be more apt to be eager participants in the ongoing efforts.

You can even get the children their own recycling bins. Stackable recycling bins are great choices for children. They love the different colors and can even make a game out of recycling.

Children can stack their own colorful bins, and they love the feeling that they are really part of the recycling process.

Recycling basics

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Americans throw $600 million worth of aluminum cans in the garbage each year. Recycled, those cans would save 95 percent of their original energy cost. Cans aren’t the only materials made from precious, recyclable resources. In fact, everything from glass to paper and metal to plastic can be processed into new materials.

To get started recycling all you need is a set of bins and a little know-how. And don’t forget to check your local government for exactly what recyclables it accepts.

Paper Recycling

Paper recycling is easy: As long as it’s 100 percent paper, it can be recycled. Newspapers, cardboard, magazines and phone books are all recyclable. So are junk mailings, paper bags, cereal boxes and wrapping paper. Watch out for tape, foil, glitter and plastic coatings, however, as those are not recyclable. You can toss your cardboard milk carton in the recycle bin because there’s a market for recycled cartons. Envelopes with windows and mailing labels are also safe to recycle.

Glass Recycling

Not all types of glass can be recycled. Bottles and jars are made from a different type of glass than windows, drinking glasses and cookware; if they’re mixed together, the resulting product will be flawed. Put only glass bottles and jars in your recycling bin and leave all other types of glass out. Be sure to remove all lids: Metal lids can be recycled with other metal items. Rinse your containers, and keep them separate from the rest of your recycling. Broken glass can mix with other materials and wind up breaking the machines used to process recyclables.

Metal Recycling

Recycle cans, aluminum foil, scrap metal and anything else that is 100 percent metal and small enough to fit in your recycling bin. Rinse your cans, but don’t crush them. If you have loose lids from soup or tuna cans, place them inside the original can and bend the can slightly so the lid won’t fall out. Do the same with other small items, because if small metal pieces are mixed with paper, they can harm processing machinery.

Check all your items and remove any plastic pieces, rubber, wood and paper. If your metal piece is bigger than 30 inches by 8 inches or heavier than 30 lbs., you’ll have to take it to a scrap metal recycling facility instead of leaving it curbside.

Plastic Recycling

Look at the bottom of your plastic containers. They should be stamped with a symbol that looks like three arrows in a triangle, with a number at the center. That number is the recycling code, and you’ll need it to sort plastic. Check with your waste management provider to find out what types of plastic it recycles: Most providers will accept code 1, but few will take code 7. Only the accepted types of plastic go into the recycling bin.

Rinse containers and remove the lids, which are not recyclable. Leave out plastic bags, which you can reuse or recycle at a recycling center; bottles that have contained hazardous materials or motor oil; and Styrofoam products.

Importance and benefits of plastic recycling

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Plastics are used to manufacture an incredible number of products we use every day, such as beverage and food containers, trash bags and grocery bags, plastic cups and utensils, children’s toys and diapers, and bottles for everything from mouthwash and shampoo to glass cleaner and dish washing liquid. And that’s not even counting all the plastic that goes into furniture, appliances, computers and automobiles.

As the use of plastics has increased over the years, they have become a larger part of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream—growing from less than 1 percent in 1960 to approximately 12 percent in 2011.

Recycling plastics reduces the amount of energy and natural resources (such as water, petroleum and natural) needed to create virgin plastic. According to the American Plastics Council, the production of plastics accounts for 4 percent of U.S. energy consumption, and 70 percent of plastics in the United States are made from domestic natural gas.

Recycling plastic products also keeps them out of landfills and allows the plastics to be reused in manufacturing new products. Recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.

Recycling plastics has never been easier. Today, 80 percent of Americans have easy access to a plastics recycling program, whether they participate in a municipal curbside program or live near a drop-off site. You can purchase inexpensive recycling bins just for your plastic.

Overall, however, plastics recycling is still relatively low. In 20011, only about 6.8 percent of plastics in the municipal solid waste stream were recycled—about 2.1 million tons of the 30 tons of plastic waste generated that year. Do your part to turn this around.

Teaching children to recycle

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

As good environmental stewards we have to make sure that our children are aware that the trash we throw pollutes our environment unless people start recycling some of that garbage. We also have to let them know that with too much trash in our environment, we along with the fishes in the sea and the birds in the air can no longer survive.

Teach your child to observe the surroundings. Let him or her watch the corners in the community, the streets, the alleys, or his or her immediate surroundings. During these situations, point out to him the garbage that pollutes these places. Teach him or her how this garbage eventually pile up and bring about diseases among humans and kills life. During that time, tell him or her that recycling can prevent such horrible consequences from occurring.

When the child is already aware of the dangers of pollution and the need to do some waste recycling, set up a recycling bin center in your own home. There should be different bins for specific waste products. Allow the child to label these bins so he or she gets involved. There should be four bins: for glass objects, for cans, plastic materials, and cardboard or paper. Make your child aware that the trash in these bins can be recycled for future use.

Enroll your kids in classes that teach how to recycle goods. Centers ran by environmentalists often teach craft classes for paper recycling and other forms of waste recycling. Aside from teaching the kids recycling, these centers give kids an outlet to hone their creativity, which is in fact is important during their formative years.

You should lead by example. Perform your part by doing waste recycling in your own house. Kids follow the example of their elders. Throw the proper trash in the appropriate recycling bins for recycling.

You with your kid can also start a community event that focuses on recycling. You can coach your kid to perform some recycling activities with his or her friends. Through these activities, your kid and other kids experience fulfillment in being able to help out clean the environment by recycling.