Have you ever wondered how recycling really works? Yes or No – either way – check out some tips below to get you started in 2012! Recycling isn’t very difficult; however our greatest challenge is the lack of education about recycling.
1. BE PROUD TO USE YOUR RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAG
It is very convenient to buy a new or a few disposable bags every time you go do shopping, but have you stopped for a short while to consider how these shopping bags pollute our environment. Find yourself a durable bag for shopping and keep this bag either in the boot of your car or neatly folded up in your handbag. If you have forgotten your shopping bag, buy a reusable shopping bag at the counter instead of buying a disposable one.
2. RECYCLING PLASTIC, GLASS AND CANS
Find out where the plastic recycling bins are located in your community. There are also various grocery and retail outlets that offer recycling bins as well. Here is a list of a few items that can be recycled:
Milk bottles, wine bottles, beverage containers,cans, salad dressing, oil and condiment bottles, food jars for items such as mayonnaise, toiletries and detergent household cleaners. Treevolution offers a more extensive list of items that can be recycled.
3. INTEGRATED WASTE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Paper, cardboard, glass, cans, metals, oils and compostable garden refuse are among the items that can be recycled. The greatest challenge faced is to find a source (buyer) for the recyclable materials.The City of Cape Town has started a waste exchange program to facilitate this kind of waste-to-resource conversion. For more information visit www.capetown.gov.za/iwex/
4. RECYCLE PAPER
If you are printing or copying something for reference and it doesn’t have to be clean and pristine, consider using the flip side of an old document or a letter.
Use smaller fonts and wider margins, this way you will be able to fit more content on to the pages and you will print less pages.
Try to avoid buying coloured paper. White paper is preferred because it can be more easily recycled without a complex chemical process.
5. USE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES AND ELECTRONICS
Did you know that the average person uses at least 10 batteries per year? If only a quarter of the South African population were to use 10 batteries each per year, that would suggest that at least 125million batteries are used per year. The majority of these batteries end up in the garbage bin. Look for electronics that are rechargeable, or invest in some rechargeable batteries this year.
6. START COMPOSTING
Compost needs three essential ingredients in order for the magic to happen: Green material, brown material and sufficient moisture.
Green material is high in nitrogen. It is usually what we refer to as kitchen scraps like coffee grounds, peelings, fruit cores, eggshells. Any kitchen waste that is not greasy or meat can be composted.
Brown material is high in carbon. Examples are paper, sawdust, small branches, twigs and straw.
Water is the final key ingredient in the thriving pile. Without moisture, your pile will take months to do anything, and if dry enough, will not break down at all. If your pile is wet, it will smell and become slimy as the ratio of bad bacteria outweighs the good. You want the pile to remain damp. You will know that your compost pile is right if it becomes hot in the middle.
7. RE-USE AND REFILL
Most household detergents bottles have refills available in retail stores. By buying refills, not only will you be saving money, but you will be recycling at the same time.
8. HOME RECYCLING – ITEMS TO HELP YOU RECYCLE AT HOME
There are some fantastic items that you can buy online at sustainable.co.za to assist you in recycling at home. They stock a range of recycling bins and containers, composters, can collectors and recycling units to make sorting recyclable material straightforward and efficient.
9. E-WASTE
Electronic waste has become a growing problem in South Africa. Every year, more than 50 000 tons of electronic equipment is thrown away. Virgin Earth will collect any of the following electronic equipment you would like to dispose of: CPU’s, hardware, monitors, printers, products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment systems, etc. They operate in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch and Cape Town areas.
These are all awesome tips! I will defiantly implement some at my home so that I can really start doing my part for this earth I love so much!
Hey there, thanks for enjoying our blog. Keep checking in and let us know how the little tips are going. We are always open for new ones too !!
I certainly feel much better recycling rather than throwing it straight in the normal bin, its just as easy too!
Thanks for the tips I definitely picked up some I could use!
That’s wonderful! Keep on recycling!
Great tips thank you very much.