Do it yourself !

Household recycling

Environmentally friendly living is not something we can ignore as our planet strains under the heat of global warming.

Eco living benefits

In an ideal world, we would not have to recycle anything, we would be able to buy rechargeable products, leftover packaging would be history and we would reuse as much as we could. Recycling diverts waste materials from the waste stream; then the (recycled) products are sorted and reused to produce new materials, such as glass, which can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality. Here are some tips to implement small changes that can make a big difference to our planet:

Reduce

Reduce your waste output by avoiding plastic bags, plastic wrap and wasting food and plant native vegetation to reduce pruning and raking.

Reuse

Another way to reduce wastage is to reuse items instead of disposing of them, such as reusing cooking oil, containers, jars, bottles and composting.

Recycle

Kerbside collection has changed the face of household recycling, making it easier to reduce landfill. Council do have different regulations about what you can recycle. Recycle plastic bags at your local supermarket and buy products made from cardboard or recycled paper.

Avoid chemicals

Household chemicals can harm the environment and your health, but have no fear as there are plenty of natural alternatives to use: use coffee grounds and chilli powder in the garden to ward off ants; buy unbleached, recycled paper products (free from bleach and dye). Contact your local government or environmental department for information on the correct way to dispose of chemicals.

Top tips to recycle and live a greener life:

Use your own shopping bags
Buy fresh food and fruit loose
Buy long-life and rechargeable items and avoid single use disposable items
Buy in bulk or buy products with recycled packaging or those easiest to recycle

Recycling household waste

Paint

Did you know it is illegal to pour paint down the drain? Disposing of paint down the drain can damage our environment. Here’s how to dispose of leftover or surplus paint:

Unwanted paint should be brushed out on newspaper, allowed to dry, then placed in domestic waste
Dry empty containers in a ventilated area, then recycle via recycling programs, which could vary between local councils
Alternatively, keep unwanted paint for disposal via special chemical waste collections.

Glass

Glass can be infinitely recycled, but is easily contaminated; five grams per 10 tonnes can result in glass going to landfill. Recycling glass saves energy as the glass making process involves heating, and recycled glass melts at a lower temperature than non-recycled glass, therefore using less energy.

What glass can be recycled?

Clear, green or brown bottles
Glass jars (including labels)

What can’t be recycled?

Ceramic plates, cups and crockery
China
Light globes (energy saving globes need special recycling)
Mirrors and window glass
Medical glass
Broken drinking glasses

Before recycling, rinse and remove lids.

Composting

Composting is an easy affordable way to reduce landfill, lower greenhouse gases and prevent garden evaporation. Recycling organic household material creates a rich organic soil supplement for the garden. Land that has been used for waste cannot be re-used due to contamination from rubbish, which produces acid as it breaks down. This acid can potentially contaminate ground water and waterways. When organic waste breaks down in landfill it produces greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.

Compost benefits

Rich nutrients are released into the soil
Improves drainage and water retention
Assists plant growth
Absorbs and filters runoff
Natural pesticide/herbicide (preventing runoff pollution)
Less garden waste

What can you compost?

Fruit and vegetables (except onion and garlic)
Hair
Newspapers
Prunings, grass clippings and weeds

Making a compost heap

There is a variety of compost heaps available to buy through retail outlets, but if you want to get back to nature for a fraction of the price of the commercial varieties, you can use something as simple as an old fruit tray with holes poked through the bottom (so the worms can escape the heat). We give you step-by-step instructions:

The first layer should be made of course material such as garden clippings, straw, dry leaves and torn newspaper
Add a layer of rich soil, compost or manure
Add your scraps (refer to materials above) and worms, including layers of course material in between
If you don’t have a lidded bin, cover your heap with hessian or mulch to protect it from pests
Water the heap to keep it damp and turn it over every week to aerate
The decay should take about eight weeks to ‘ripen’ – the bigger the heap – the faster the decay and the faster you’ll have a rich soil supplement.

Sites Internationaux

Do it yourself !

Household recycling

0

Add a comment

Give your opinion