Recycling – A Beginners Insight

A guest post from Sims Recycling. By Thomas O’Rourke.

For many of us, recycling is fast becoming an inherent part of our lives. For some it’s an absolute necessity – for others, a pointless exercise. But why should we recycle and what are the ideal ways in which to do so?

Almost anything can now be recycled. Paper products, metals, glass, plastics, liquids and chemicals, waste electronics, textiles – the list is almost endless! If it can’t be recycled, then it almost certainly can be reduced or reused. Recycling helps us to conserve and reuse old raw materials and energy which would otherwise be used for new products. This guide aims to show you how you can contribute towards the recycling effort in your local community.

Here are a few steps and tips to help you get started:

Do Your Research

Different areas have different recycling programmes, which all recycle different products. Some may only recycle glass products. Some plastics. It’s important to find out in advance which groups you should be separating your rubbish into. It’s also important that you find out where the local recycling points are in your area. If they seem to be a stretch too far, push your local government or council to try and arrange a closer recycling point. It’s important to make sure you’re heard and that the local authorities know that there is a demand for these resources. If you have any electrical equipment which you wish to discard of, it might also be worth finding a business who provide WEEE Recycling. It’s also worth noting that any long journeys made specifically for recycling won’t usually be of benefit, as you’ll be using fuel in the transportation process.

Act

It’s pointless researching and promising to commit to a recycling scheme if you fail to take advantage of recycling services in your area. Recycling has commonly harboured a high drop-out rate. Much like the gym, people often begin with tons of enthusiasm and commitment – before eventually losing their willingness to act and opting for easy way of doing things! Recycling is only beneficial if it becomes a steadfast way of living your life. You should try and have separate bins in your home for each separate category of waste. For example, three separate bins might store glass, paper and plastic waste. This makes the process much simpler when it comes to the removal stage. Unfortunately it’s a matter of life that some materials just cannot be recycled – and you will need a bin for this waste too.

Enjoy It!

This might be easier said than done; but you should enjoy making your contribution to the world and helping to make it a safer, greener place. It’s definitely worth the effort for the simple sense of satisfaction gained knowing that you’ve had a positive influence on the Earth. Up to 60% of rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled – so it’s important that we try and play our part in reducing this number.