The Recycling Conundrum

Recycling responsibly reduces waste.

Learn more about the do's & don'ts of recycling this International Zero waste week!

Hi there fellow Wanderers!

This week is International Zero waste week, considering this and the inspirations of last week, I’m going to take a more in depth look at the recycling conundrum.

We all know that the diversity of recycling can be daunting at first but is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and help the planet! By recycling responsibly, we can reduce waste that would otherwise pollute our air, water, and land. When we understand that recycling includes more materials than just plastic or paper, we help conserve natural resources. These include energy, water, and oil, which can then be used for new, more sustainable items. We are also helping to prevent toxic chemicals from entering the environment, these are harmful to our wildlife and ecosystems. Furthermore, recycling helps lessen the strain placed on landfills, reducing the need to build new ones, and helping conserve the land for greener activities.

What exactly is recycling?

The process of separating, collecting and then converting various products that are seen as waste into either new materials or products is known as recycling. This remanufacturing extends the lifespan of waste and lessens the environmental strain. It doesn’t have to be complicated either, there are a lot of simple steps you can take.

One of these simple steps is to be aware that recycling isn’t just about tossing out your cans and bottles. There are a variety of materials that can be recycled, below are a few examples:

Paper products:

· Newspaper, corrugated cardboard, magazines, and office paper.

Plastic Products:

· Food and drink containers, these include plastic water bottles, butter tubs, ice cream tubs etc.

· Hard plastic containers used for cleaning e.g. dishwashing fluid bottles or tile cleaner bottles.

· Plastic bags used by retailers to wrap items such as toilet paper.

Bearing in mind that cling wrap is sadly not recyclable, there are many more sustainable alternatives e.g. tin foil or wrap cloths.

Glass Products:

· Light bulbs

· Sheet glass and mirrors

· Food bottles e.g., jam or honey jars

· Glass bottles used for drinking liquids

It is important to clean out these bottles completely and dry them before recycling. Paper labels may be left on.

Metal Products:

· Cans made from aluminium

· Food item tins e.g., jam tins

· Stationery items such as staples or paperclips

· Aerosol cans

· Paint tins

E-waste:

· Electronics such as cell phones, computers, or TVs

· Electrical items such as household appliances e.g., toasters

Please be aware that these items need to be recycled at a depot. It is extremely important that these are recycled correctly.

Textile products:

· Cloths

· Sheets or towels

Remember, if possible, to wash these, if they are still in an acceptable condition, consider donating them.

It is important to be informed about which items are recycled where in your area, recycling incorrectly, or “wish-cycling” can contaminate entire recycling batches or negate your efforts. Items such as TVs and laptops or batteries have to be recycled through specific recycling centres. Pick and Pay provides recycle bins in store, for items such as batteries and lightbulbs, which do not belong in curb side recycle bins. Curb side recycling is one of the most convenient ways to recycle, as it is usually picked up with your regular rubbish. Make sure you purchase and use the correct green recycle bins and find out which day of the week has been allocated to recycling in your neighbourhood. Some recycling centres also have community drop off bins, which are available free for you to use.

Food scraps and other organic materials, such as garden waste, can be recycled in an easy and natural way through composting. Compost can be made with ease at home, or with a wormery, this method uses worms, that do all the breaking down of your compostable materials. A highly efficient and environmentally friendly way to helps nature restore itself. Worms are low maintenance and provide numerous benefits for your garden, these include providing valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

What happens if we choose not to recycle?

If recycling isn’t made a priority, both by the individual and by businesses, the environment is negatively impacted. Un-recycled materials end up in landfills where they take decades to break down and release gases that pollute our atmosphere. Waste ends up in our oceans, which can be dangerous for marine life and lead to water contamination. Recycling also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, and save energy, all of which are essential to maintain a healthy planet for future generations.

Finally, don’t forget about other ways to reduce waste. Reuse items wherever possible, such as storing leftovers in reusable or glass containers, avoiding single-use plastics like straws or bags, and investing in sustainable products built to last a lifetime, rather than disposable ones that will need continuous replacing.

Recycling isn’t just about what happens in our own homes – it’s a global issue and ultimately an important step for our children’s sustainable future, with a few simple changes, recycling can become an easy and rewarding habit. So, start today and make sure your family knows how to be eco-conscious by recycling responsibly.

I look forward to hearing from you about your own recycling tips and tricks!

Gwen