Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Three great ways YOU can eliminate waste and protect your environment!

What exactly is "waste"?

Simply speaking, waste is anything discarded, rejected, surp

lused, abandoned, or otherwise released into the environment in a manner (or quantity) that could have an impact on that environment.

How can you help?

You can help by learning about and PRACTICING the three R's of waste management: Reduce, reuse, and recycle! Practicing all three of these activities every day is not only important for a healthy environment, but it can also be fun too. So let's take a minute right now to learn more about waste and waste management, so you can become a key player in making our world a safe and healthy place.

Reduce the quantity to misuse you produce.

You can practice reduction by selecting products that do not have to be added to landfills or the waste stream in general. This is really easy to do...

• First and foremost, buy and use less! You buy only what you need and use all of what you buy.
• Composting is a great way to dispose of kitchen waste.It´s healthy for the soil and less weaste wiil go into the landfill.
• Turn off the taps when brushing your teeth.
• Turn off light that you´re not using them and use energy efficient light bulbs.
  

-REUSE:

You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away, or pass those materials on to others who could use them too! Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure! Here are some examples of reuse ...

• Use reusable lunch bags
• Donate clothes ,furniture , and toys toa charity
• Store food in reusable plastic containers.
• Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic bags.
• Metal cans and plastic containers can be used for storing items.
  

-RECYCLE:

Recycling occurs when you save and take reusable materials to places where they can be remade into either the same product or new products, rather than to just toss them in the trash. Making new items from recycled ones also takes fewer energy and other resources than making products from brand new materials.

Just about anything in your home (or office or school, etc.) that cannot be reused CAN be recycled into something else. You'd be amazed what can be done with a recycled product ...a recycled soda bottle, for example, can be made into T-shirts, combs, or hundreds of other plastic goods that can be used for many years. Even your brand new computer case might be made from ordinary recycled plastics. And paper products can take on different forms as well -- an old phone book or coloring book might become one of your school books or a composition notebook.

Your recycling mission is not impossible! In fact, it is very simple:

Acid Batteries Aluminum Cans Building Materials Cardboard Chemicals Electronic equipment Glass (particularly bottles and jars) Lead Magazines Metal Newspaper

Oil Paint Paper Plastic Bags Plastic Bottles S teel Cans Tires White Goods (Appliances) Wood Writing/Copy Paper Yard Waste

Now isn't that easy? There is so much that YOU can do with very little effort. And the best part is you will probably save yourself a lot of money while you are at it!

Recycling in and around the home can be easy when you know how. By thinking carefully about what products you buy at the supermarket and how to recycle them is the first step towards efficient recycling.

Recycling collection schemes aim to, firstly, divert more waste from landfill and, secondly, facilitate efficient, profitable recycling. However, the debate rages on the proper method for meeting these targets:

The case for "co-mingled" collections

A 2005 study by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) showed that the quantity of paper collected for recycling rose when collections moved from single-material to multi-material. Clearly, separating recyclables takes time, whereas co-mingled (mixed waste) collections are easier for the householder, and boost overall recycling levels. To collect the material accepted in co-mingled schemes individually, kerbside collection lorries would need to be highly compartmentalised. Co-mingled kerbside collections reduce the number of trips householders make to recycling centres. Both factors make co-mingled collections more energy-efficient.

The case for separation

Costs increase as more collection and separation is required for the recovery process. Furthermore, co-mingled waste leads to an increased risk of contamination. Different types of material are in contact with each other, and a single kerbside box may result in householders being less attentive when sorting recyclate. The recycling box becomes more of a second dustbin, with hygiene and cross-contamination both issues to be considered.

The solution?

A good compromise is the dual bag method adopted by several local authorities. Powys County Council, for example, provide households with two bags - a red one for plastics and metal, a black one for paper, card and textiles. Partial separation makes the process more efficient for the council, without placing a burden on householders.