Going Green: Time to Recycle
In our fast paced world, it is easy to ignore that every day we are adding to our mounting waste. For many, the fact that the landfill is nowhere near us, it’s easy not to think about how full it is getting. Teaching your family to recycle helps to combat this problem.
Many of the products people use are not environmentally friendly. A soda can left on the street will stay there indefinitely. It is not biodegradable so once it is created, it will be around forever. The problem happens when people don’t take the items to be recycled and instead just toss them in the garbage to sit in the landfill forever.
Recycling is a major component to the solution of global garbage. It works, but only if you participate. The responsibility belongs to all of us, as citizens of the world, but it begins with you and your family.
The number of items in the store made from recycled materials is growing. Our shelves could be filled with more of these products if everyone did their part to help. Most towns and cities provide recycling containers for residents to use. If you're not sure if your town or city does, call their municipal office and ask.
If you don’t have such a service in your area, buy your own trash can or other container
to gather your recyclables. You can schedule a pickup or take them to the appropriate recycling plant for processing. The point is to just do it! In some states, you can even make a little money collecting aluminum cans or returning glass soda bottles for deposits.
Whoever picks up your recyclables should have literature on how to package them. Cardboard is typically broken down and tied together. Old newspapers are tied together in bundles much like they are delivered to newsstands. Bottles are grouped together based on the number on the bottom or the label.
To encourage recycling in your home, have separate bins for your recyclables in the house. Mark them clearly so no one gets confused. If kids want to make money, let them collect cans from neighbors.
Get in the habit of breaking down boxes after you use them. This includes cereal boxes, tooth paste boxes, gift boxes, and the like, not just heavy duty cardboard. All of these paper products can be used for recycling.
Envelopes and old bills can be recycled, too. To protect your information, shred them first and then bag the shredded paper for recycling pickup. Most of us just toss out these envelopes in the regular trash but they can be put to better use.
Recycling saves on pollution and landfill space. Why not do it? I personally can’t think of a reason not to. Can you?
Here's to Going Green!
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