It’s no secret that we are currently living through a crisis when it comes to climate change and waste. We’re currently producing more waste than ever before in human history. Plastic is a particularly sinister culprit, with an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste forecasted for the environment by 2040. The land and ocean are currently flooded by waste and this trend will continue unless drastic action is taken. Much of the climate action needs to be taken by governments and business, as there is only so much we as individuals can do. However, it is still vitally important for us all to play our part in the effort to combat waste pollution. The main way that we can all help in the effort is by ramping up our household recycling, at work and in schools.
Although we all know that we need to be better at recycling, many people remain confused about what can be recycled and how to improve recycling in their own homes. To help you understand how you can improve recycling efforts in your home, we have made a brief guide. Read on to find out more.
The Best Ways You Can Improve Your Recycling Habits at Home
Learn What Can Be Recycled and What Can’t
One of the first steps you can take to improve your household recycling is to understand exactly what can and cannot be recycled. It’s easy to get confused about which materials go in which box and what can actually be recycled.
All types of paper and cardboard can be recycled – with a few crucial exceptions. Books, magazines and junk letters can all be recycled. Most cardboard can also be recycled, however, not if the material is greasy or covered in food.
When recycling plastic, keep an eye on the numbers which appear on the material. The numbers one to seven denote whether or not plastic is recyclable. Number one means that the item is widely recycled. Numbers two, four and five mean that the material is recycled, but you should double-check with the local authority. Numbers three, six and seven are non-recyclable plastics.
Aluminium can almost always be recycled. However, it’s important to remember to wash out the tins before putting them in the box. Similarly, glass can also be recycled but must be washed out and dried before heading to the recycling centre.
Have More Bins Throughout The Home
Many people may only have one or two bins in the home – one in the kitchen and another in the bathroom. However, by increasing the number of bins you have in your property, you can ensure that as much waste gets recycled as possible. When bin day arrives, simply collect all of the waste in your bins, separate them into the respective collection bins and you’ll have a much better chance of reducing the likelihood that recyclable materials end up in the landfill.
Reuse Products To Reduce Recycling Necessity
Where possible, look to reuse products as much as you can. If you’ve had a deliver, keep the boxes and use them to keep your knick-knacks in. Be creative, your next tin of baked beans could become a flower pot or your milk bottle could be painted and become a stationary container!
Buy Recycled Products
In addition to reusing items, always seek ways that you can buy recycled items too! If you need new clothes, shop at charity shops rather than ordering online. These items are often cheaper, of better quality and more unique anyway!
If you’re looking to furnish your home, why not look out for local reclamation yards rather than buying new? Again, you can find really interesting pieces by doing this. More importantly, however, you’ll be buying something recycled that needs a new home and avoiding it being chucked into a landfill site.
Create Good Recycling Habits
Recycling can seem like a chore for many people, but it doesn’t have to be! Instead of seeing recycling as an infringement on your life, try and make good recycling habits which fit in with your lifestyle rather than working against it.
Consider Buying From Waste-Free Food Shops
One of the biggest issues when it comes to the plastic waste crisis is all of the plastic that is used to package our food. Many shops are getting better, however, the problem persists and is critical in the fightback against plastic pollution.
To combat this issue, you can purchase much of your food from so-called zero-waste shops. These shops allow you to take in containers and fill them up to your heart’s content. In the end, your items will be weighed to provide you with the price. Produce like dry pasta, rice, grains, beans, spices and flour are all sold loose for you to fill up yourself. All of these products are often contained in non-recyclable plastic wrappings when bought from traditional supermarkets, so doing much of your shopping here will greatly reduce your waste.
Maximise Space By Breaking Down Material
If you’ve had a particularly busy week – maybe a birthday party or lots of deliveries in your home, you might find that you’re running out of space. To combat this, make sure that you’re breaking down materials as small as possible. Take cardboard boxes apart, crush cans and squash materials to get them in the box.
Invest In a Dual Bin
You can make your life much easier when it comes to recycling by investing in a dual bin – or multi-section bin – for the kitchen. This means that you can put different types of waste in its relative container as you go, which will save you time in the long run and make the job much easier when it comes to collection day!
What To Do With Shopping Bags?
Shopping bags are tricky when it comes to recycling. Unfortunately, plastic carrier bags simply cannot be recycled with traditional techniques. With that in mind, you should either reuse them and take them with you every time you shop or drop them off at a supermarket collection point. From there, they can be dealt with effectively. However, if they go in the bin they’ll simply go straight to the landfill!
Some innovative recycling organisations are beginning to make things like parch benches from compressed plastic waste. However, your local recycling centre won’t be able to do much with them!
Be More Eco-Friendly With Construction Recycling Services From Brewster Bros in Scotland’s Central Belt
Here at Brewster Bros, we can help your construction business be more environmentally responsible and eco-friendly with our construction recycling services. As the costs of construction materials continue to soar, we provide recycled aggregates which are supremely high quality as well as being cost-effective and affordable. Moreover, we can also provide professional waste management and recycling services which will ensure you remain environmentally-friendly as a business.
Brewster Bros has been operative for more than four decades in Scotland’s Central Belt and, in that time, we’ve helped countless clients improve the recycling on their site. We’ve helped many businesses save money on material costs as well as provide construction waste removal services. We understand that sustainability is critical for the industry and it’s at the heart of everything we do. If you’ve been looking for experts in construction recycling, look no further than Brewster Bros.
To find out more, contact us today. If you’re interested in speaking to us about our waste disposal, recycling and wash plant services you can fill out our contact form. Alternatively, you can call us on 01506 431 321 or email us at [email protected].