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The amount of waste produced on the planet is undoubtedly a problem that has increased considerably in recent years. The exponential growth of production and the rapid economic and technological evolution of the world have inevitably led to an increase in the production of waste, both industrial and household. Recycling at home is one of the ways to try to get around this situation and, thus, create a more sustainable way of life.
The word “recycle” has the meaning “to submit something to a series of processes, changes and treatments that aim at its reuse”. Thus, the recycling of garbage has as main objective to reuse that raw material so that, instead of being discarded as garbage, it gains a new function and utility.
Carrying out recycling at home is a great way to reduce the production of household waste and contribute to the future of the planet. However, for it to be, in fact, effective, you need to know how to properly separate and store recyclable waste.
We have prepared this article for you to learn the basic principles of recycling at home and, with this, start contributing to a healthier and more sustainable world. Don’t miss out!
Sustainability and development: the importance of recycling at home
One of the main problems with the high production of waste and garbage by humans is that certain materials take years and years to be decomposed by nature. Even though garbage is properly treated in landfills, for example, the space that waste occupies and the substances that its decomposition produces become real villains and environmental pollutants.
We know that many places do not have a system for garbage collection and urban cleaning to give an adequate destination to the waste produced. This problem of lack of basic sanitation generates environmental pollution and causes a series of diseases in the population. Therefore, the treatment of waste is fundamental for the healthy development of any society.
However, even when waste is disposed of correctly, it is possible to do much more to contribute to the conservation of the environment. Recycling at home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to apply the concept of sustainability, as it allows economic and social development with a reduction in the environmental impact of human activities.
A proof of how beneficial recycling at home is for nature is to analyze the decomposition time of various products and materials for our daily use. When we stop to think about how many years it takes for a simple plastic cup to fully return to the environment by natural means, we realize that recycling is an essential act today.
What is the decomposition time of the main materials of our daily use?
Check below some examples of products that we normally dispose of in the trash and the time it takes to undergo complete decomposition:
- Newspapers: 2 to 6 weeks;
- Paper packaging and napkins: 1 to 4 months;
- Fruit and food peel: 3 months;
- Chewing gum: 5 years;
- Disposable plastic cups: 200 to 450 years;
- Plastic bottles: more than 500 years;
- Plastic packaging lids: 100 to 500 years;
- Glass: more than 1000 years;
- Aluminum cans: 100 to 500 years;
- Tissues: 6 months to 1 year;
- Batteries and batteries: 100 to 500 years;
- Cigarette butts: 2 years;
- Disposable diapers: 600 years;
- Rubber: indefinite time.
Coming across this data can be quite impactful, right? This is why recycling at home is so important. By separating your waste and disposing of it in places that can be recycled, you considerably reduce your environmental impact and the volume of waste produced.
But then, how to do recycling at home correctly? Follow the reading and learn simple attitudes that have a great effect on the preservation of the environment!
A complete guide to recycling at home
It is possible to recycle and reuse many of the materials we use at home. Plastic, glass and aluminum packaging are the most common and important to be recycled, especially when we think about the time it takes to undergo decomposition in nature.
In addition to these, it is important to be aware of the correct disposal of batteries and batteries, as these products have substances of high pollutant content in their composition. The same occurs with the cooking oil that we use for frying. It is not correct to dispose of the fat directly in the sink or in the trash! This is because the oil is capable of generating great pollution in water and soil, if it is not treated properly for disposal.
But, after all, what are the products that can be recycled? Below, we have prepared a list of materials and the care that you must take with each one so that you can recycle at home correctly. Check out!
Glass
Glass recycling is a process that takes minutes! This fact is in stark contrast to the more than 1000 years required for this material to be returned to nature through the decomposition process. With the right temperature to fuse the glass, it is possible to melt and reshape it into a new product. Therefore, always try to dispose of the glass containers in the recyclable garbage.
A tip in addition to disposal is that you reuse glass containers for other purposes. Glass jars of processed foods can become containers for storing anything at home! Many craft techniques teach you how to transform glass pots into beautiful plant pots!
Plastics
Plastic packaging is very present in our daily lives and recycling is possible and urgent. Currently, most of the products we buy are stored in some type of plastic and, because this is a material derived from petroleum, we know that it is a non-renewable and extremely important resource to be used with awareness.
Recycling is an excellent way to ensure that the next generations have natural resources to develop and live with quality of life. Always try to dispose of any plastic packaging for recyclable waste.
Metals
The recycling of metals, such as aluminum for example, is an effective way to reduce the environmental impact. This is because by using recycled metals, we reduce the demand for mining these resources and, as we know, mining activities have a major impact on nature.
Products made of metal must be sent for recycling before they suffer the effects of time and rust, as it is not possible to recycle them after the formation of metal alloys.
Papers
Recycling paper at home should be done very carefully and obey some rules, as it is only possible to recycle dry and clean paper. Remember that cardboard boxes are considered to be paper for recycling and follow these same rules!
Milk and juice boxes, known as Tetra Pak type packaging, although they are composed of different materials, can also be recycled by the manufacturers themselves! It is enough that you always dispose of them clean and dry together with the recyclable garbage.
Papers used for personal hygiene, which have some dirt or grease should never be sent for recycling. Other papers that are not recyclable are:
- Toilet paper;
- Napkin;
- Paper towel;
- Laminated paper;
- Cellophane paper;
- Carbon paper;
- Stickers;
- Hang tags.
Polystyrene
Styrofoam is a material with a lot of recycling capacity, however it is necessary a large volume of this product in order to be able to do the process. Due to the low financial return, many recycling companies end up rejecting the Styrofoam in their selective collections.
The ideal, therefore, is to check if the recycling company to which your garbage is destined to recycle the Styrofoam.
Recycling at home: a simple step by step for sustainability
Now that we know a little about the recycling process and its importance for the conservation of the environment, the time has come to understand in a practical way how to implement the waste separation system in your home!
Below, we list the 5 fundamental steps of recycling at home.
1. Know recyclable materials and search for information
The first step in implementing recycling in your home is to let you know what materials can be recycled by collection companies. Search for information about your region and adapt your routine and actions to what is possible in your city.
In possession of the information, make a list of accepted materials and inform all the residents of the house so that everyone can contribute to the process! An excellent idea for anyone to forget is to put this list in plain sight, on the refrigerator door for example.
2. Clean the items
Never dispose of dirty packaging and items in recyclable waste! Unlike organic waste, the state of conservation and cleanliness of recyclable products is fundamental to the success of the entire process.
Dirty, moldy or contaminated items can be discarded by recycling companies due to poor condition. Therefore, always clean items before placing them in the trash.
3. Separate the trash
An essential step of recycling at home is to separate the recyclable waste. Never dispose of organic waste with the materials you want to recycle.
Ideally, you should have an organic waste bin and two other waste bins: one for paper and cardboard and the other for plastics, metals and glass. In this way, you prevent liquid packaging from being mixed with moisture-sensitive paper.
Sorting waste correctly is essential to ensure that materials are in proper condition for recycling. In addition, separate disposal assists the screening process carried out by the responsible company.
4. Dispose of on the correct day
It is essential that you know what is the …
