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What Do You Need to Know About Recycling?
Admin • August 11, 2017
The average American makes more than four pounds of garbage each day. Of this, roughly 75 percent is recyclable. Unfortunately, not all of this waste is recycled or recycled properly. It is estimated that Americans recycle only 30 percent of their recyclable garbage.
Recycling might not always seem practical or simple. With your busy schedule, it seems like these extra steps are just getting in the way. And, you're left wondering, "Why bother? I can't really make a difference."
If you don't think that recycling is important or aren't sure why you should separate out some of your trash from the rest of it, take a look at what recycling can do for you and the planet too.
Conserving Resources
It might seem like the world is populated with an endless amount of trees. But, it's not. All of the paper products that you toss are ending up in landfills. This means that they're just sitting there, while new products are made to take their place. The same goes for plastics, aluminum, steel and glass.
Recycling these items allows manufacturers to make new items from existing ones. This means that they can conserve natural resources (such as trees – if you're talking about paper) instead of expending them.
Saving Jobs
When you choose to recycle you aren't just saving the planet, you're also saving jobs. There is an entire industry built around recycling. From the professionals who pick up your recyclables to the people who work in the plants that process them, plenty of workers across the U.S. (and around the world) rely on recycling for their livelihoods. Without the work that recycling provides, these people couldn't feed their families or themselves for that matter unless they totally switched careers.
If you don't think that you can really make a difference, consider what would happen if each and every American had the same thought. As it stands, the largest recycling hauler in the U.S. has already closed 25 percent of their plants, according to the organization Recycle Across America. The much-needed industry comes down to use. The fewer people who make the choice and effort to recycle, the fewer workers are needed to populate positions.
Getting It Right
If you want to make the conscious effort to recycle, it isn’t always easy to do it correctly. Mixing the wrong types of recyclables is a common problem that can cause contamination. This can destroy the positive impact of recycling and make it challenging, at best, to recycle. For example, if you accidentally mix your banana peel with your used water bottles, the plastic becomes contaminated.
Along with not mixing recyclables and other types of trash, the types of plastics that you can recycle may seem confusing. Not all plastics are recyclable. Aside from this not all recycling programs accept all types of recyclable plastic products. You've probably seen those little numbers on your plastic bottles and containers. Those designate the type of plastic resin used to make the product. In many areas number 3 plastics (which are made from PVCs and vinyl) aren't accepted. Along with these, many number 7 plastics aren't accepted at curbside pick-up. These are problematic, as the 7 category includes "other" plastics. Some are recyclable and others aren't. If you're in doubt, ask your recycler or waste management company.
Do you have more recycling-related questions or do you need a trash removal
pro for your haul? Call Total Trash Removal at 908-756-3867
for more information.
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