Recycling at Home - Some Ideas to Save the Environment and Cash
Last updated February 11, 2010
Recycling is beneficial to the environment and to humans because it reduces the amount of waste that could end up in landfills and the atmosphere. It also provides a steady supply of used materials that can be transformed into new products. Recycling at home is easy to do and can actually save you money by reducing how much you spend on new products and your garbage bill. Recycling helps reduce pollution, saves energy, conserves natural resources and reduces the use of landfills. Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in garbage bins can be recycled. Therefore, recycling our garbage not only reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills but also cuts down on energy use and pollution; in many cases recycling initiatives have even created jobs.
Before you go shopping, consider ways in which you can reduce your consumption of resources and consumables in the first place. Once you have acquired a product, think of ways in which you can reuse that product or its container before you throw it away or send it to be recycled.
The best way to reduce your impact on the environment and your pocket is to reduce the amount you use or buy in the first place. Buy products with less packaging such as bulk items and unpackaged farm produce, and buy them only when you need to. You will also want to avoid buying any product or consumable that comes in small or individualized packaging. This can greatly reduce the amount of paper or cardboard that you will have to buy and the household discards you dispose of later. In general, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as trash. As much as possible, buy in bulk. Grains and cereal are especially easy to purchase this way, but you don't want to buy large quantities of a product if it's likely that it will spoil before it's used. Also consider buying concentrated products and refills such as detergents and cleaners, but ensure that these are environmentally friendly as well.
Practice re-use by choosing durable items instead of disposable ones. Disposables might be more convenient to use but reusable items are better for the environment and may actually be cheaper to buy in the long run. Reuse plastic and glass containers, such as the ones that peanut butter and jam are shipped in. If you can't find a practical use for your used items, you may consider making them a part of an art project for your children, community or as a decorative item for the house.
When you find yourself with unwanted clothes you might want to consider donating them to a charity organization for redistribution to the less fortunate or victims of a natural disaster. In this way you are not only being environmentally conscientious but socially responsible as well.
Practice substitution through reducing the amount of waste you send to the landfills by limiting the amount of consumables you use. You can do so by replacing single use items with more durable reusable products. Instead of disposable paper napkins, use cloth towels and rags for most cleaning jobs. Though the initial cost of purchasing these items might be higher than disposable options, you will definitely recover the cost in a short time. Any hygiene concern you may have about reusing rags or towels can be laid to rest by using an environmentally safe disinfectant to sanitize the items after they are used.
One other way to become more environmentally responsible is to invest in rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. You can run almost anything with rechargeable batteries, including radios, flashlights and cameras. In the long run, it is cheaper to use rechargeable batteries than the standard ones.
Practice recycling! There are some items that you will definitely need to send to a recycling center. You should be able to easily find a recycling service in your area through the phone directory or an Internet search. Various waste recycling centers specialize in recycling computers, hazardous waste, batteries, steel, aluminum cans, motor oils, demolition debris, paper, plastics, fluorescent lamps and tubes. There are some that will even pay you for your trash and provide free curbside pickup, depending on whether your waste is properly sorted and whether the items in question have a fair economic value. Call your local recycling center to determine the extent of their recycling services.
Finally, don't forget to vote with your dollars, buy recycled products and support companies that are environmentally conscious. It feels good to recycle and it's an excellent way to save energy and preserve the environment. In some cases it might even save you money and help create jobs in your area.
03 Aug 2010, 16:23