Ernesto Rosario | Induveca Environment Manager
Recycling is giving a new life to the materials used in the production of a product for another purpose. It is a simple and valuable activity that we can do as a family, even with the little ones in the house. This contributes to preventing environmental pollution in three ways: air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
On the occasion of Recycling Day, we bring you this quick guide to start the habit of this practice in your homes.
What materials can be recycled?
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastics
- Metals
- Wood
- Organic waste
- Glass
- Batteries
- Fabrics
- Electronic scrap
- Aluminum
- Toys
- Tetra Pak materials
Steps to start recycling at home
Identify nearby recycling centers
Research what recycling facilities are in your area and what materials they accept so you can take your recyclables. For example, at the Next stations on Abraham Lincoln Avenue or Charles Sumner Avenue you can recycle paper/cardboard, glass, plastic, and cans.
Identify recyclable materials
Make a list of the materials you can recycle based on what you use in your home and start with the basics. At first, focus on recycling the most common materials, like paper and plastic. As you become more comfortable, you can expand your recycling efforts to other materials.
Establish a classification system
Provide separate recycling bins in your home for different recyclables. You can use bags, boxes or specific containers labeled for each type of material.
Wash and rinse the containers
Before throwing away plastic, glass or metal containers, be sure to wash and rinse them to remove any residue. This helps prevent contamination of other recyclable materials.
Make sure you don’t include non-recyclable materials in your recycling bins. Common examples include paper or cardboard contaminated with oil or food, electronics, batteries, and chemicals.
Reduce and reuse
Before recycling, consider whether you can reduce the amount of waste you generate. Reuse containers, jars and bags whenever possible. For example, you can use glass jars to store food or reuse plastic bags to store small items.
Go with your whole family to recycle
You can set a specific day of the week for everyone to go to the center together to bring everything they collected.
How else can we contribute to the cause and reduce our impact?
- Buy only what you need
- Share how you handle materials with others to encourage everyone to recycle
Buy materials with less waste - Take reusable bags to the supermarket or store to avoid excessive use of plastic bags.
Remember that recycling is only one part of the waste reduction process. It is also important to reduce consumption, reuse objects and make conscious decisions when purchasing products.
Learning to manage waste reduces human footprints on planet earth, let’s start today!
