Preserving the environment should be the ultimate aim of everybody whether you are an environmentalist or not. To do this, recycling of used products should be done at every available opportunity.
A lot of used products could be recycled including but not limited to batteries, equipment, construction machines and tools, electronics, e-waste, plastic and glass, metal, organics and paint products.
To say a lot of homes are adopting recycling as part of their waste disposal strategy is an understatement.
All over different Melbourne suburbs, such as the popular Frankston, Seaford and Skye right through to Langwarrin, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Keysborough and Doveton and even Bonbeach – there are always huge heap of trash sitting there to be recycled.
To really make a difference, you should support a recycling process by doing your part. When we recycle residential rubbish we stand to gain a lot from energy and resources, save the environment from pollution and health hazards, and reduce our carbon footprint.
To be part of the process of preserving our planet, the first stage is to learn what can’t and what can be recycled. Next, you need to learn how to separate them properly so they can be sent to the correct recycling facility.
Whether you are new to recycling or not, below are a few common mistakes you should avoid in the process of recycling your waste;
Common Mistakes You Should Avoid in the Process of Recycling Your Waste
Don’t Bag It
One big mistake people make when trying to support recycling is bagging their waste.
Bagging all your recyclable waste like bottles, plastics into one big bag should be discouraged.
Separate all your recyclables and put it into different bags if you must bag them.
Magazines, Staples and Paperclips
Some are of the opinion that glossy magazines should not be separated from normal paper as they are made of the same materials.
This cannot be farther from the truth.
Even though glossy magazines are made of papers with gloss, it would be okay if you can always remove their staples and clips before putting them in paper waste bags.
Label Removal
By error of commission or omission, some people like removing the labels on cans and bottles.
This is a grave mistake as removing these labels would make it difficult for recyclers to know the type of liquid in the container whenever they want to check.
Shredded paper
Any paper, including books, could be recycled except for shredded paper.
Avoid shredding your paper or books if you want them recycled as they can’t be recycled again once shredded because they will be too small for the sorting machine to pick up.
General waste paper like tissues should go to your general waste bin.
Aerosols
More and more waste collectors are refusing to accept aerosols cans even if they have recycling symbols on the cans. This is because of the potential risks posed to their workers.
Gas bottles and batteries also have their different recycling bins. Make sure to identify each and dispose accordingly.
Clean, Dry and Empty Cans
Any can to be recycled must be empty, clean and dried before putting into the waste bin.
If the can used to contain food or liquid, make sure you empty everything inside, give it a quick rinse and dry it.
Put simply, anything which could become rancid within a day, shouldn’t be placed in your recycling bin.
Learn to Recycle
Everything we do always has a positive or negative impact on our planet Earth. You have the power to control most of your choices from where you live, to what you wear, what you use to power your home or office, etc.
All these things, whether we like it or not, impact our lives and also our planet.
Learning to recycle our used products the right way will create less pollution, reduce health hazards and make the planet a better place to live for everyone.