Recycling is widely recognised as a necessity rather than a chore. While recycling requires effort, it also can give you a sense of pride for doing your bit for the future existence of life on earth. For too many years we have taken our planet for granted and now action is required. In this article we will indicate what you must be considered when starting individualized recycling system that will work for you and steer you on the path to a greener environmental future. Your recycling should be seen as a valuable resource and not simply as waste. When it comes to recycling every little bit counts.
What should you consider before you start recycling?
Is recycling handled somewhere near to where you live?
This might seem a strange question to start with, but not everyone in our country has equal access to recycling centres. People in rural areas, small towns and townships are often at a disadvantage. Try googling your nearest recycling centre and it could very well be in a nearby city kilometers away from your house. Not everyone has a vehicle to transport their recycling to the nearest drop off point (not to mention the cost of petrol) and recycling companies normally only collect in certain nearby suburbs. If there is no viable recycling option in your area, consider trying to reuse glass or plastic products. Also consider starting a compost bin or heap with your vegetable waste and use the compost to grow your own vegetable garden. If you choose to do composting you can use vegetable scraps, most fruits, coffee grounds and paper filters, crushed eggshells and paper tea bags (without staples). Avoid citrus fruits, onions and garlic, meat, dairy products, greasy foods, bones, and pet waste. If you are a township dweller and don't recycle, consider passing on your recyclables to someone who does, as it will help them earn additional income from your waste.
If your answer is yes, you need to decide how much you are willing to pay for the service. In South Africa this may cost anywhere from around R70 for a once-a-month collection going up to around R160 per month if your recycling is collected weekly. Most businesses also insist that you purchase one of their storage containers which will cost extra. Some can be purchased to keep, others rented. These containers are often collected at intervals that suit your budget. The advantage of having somebody else doing recycling for you is that you can put all your items into a large container and let the recycling company sort your waste. This will save you time and the extra hassle of delivering the items to a drop off point. Remember when you choose to do your own recycling you may find that there are very few drop off points that accept all recyclables. It means that often you may have to visit two or more sites to dispose of all your recycling.
3. Where is the nearest recycling drop-off point from my home and what do they recycle?
Next you must research where you can drop off recyclable items. Consider some of the drop off points that are closest to your home and an acceptable distance to travel. Find out which items they accept, because this may well influence what you will choose to recycle. To make your life easier it may be wise to recycle what is accepted at these sites. Recycling only certain items is always better than not recycling at all.
4. Should I start small or recycle as many items as possible?
When starting to recycle, it is easier to start with a few items and add on once you fully understand what recycling involves. Remember, it is sometimes wiser to recycle only items accepted by your nearest recycling business rather than items they don't handle and battle to dispose of them.
This will differ from person to person, depending on what containers/bags you have available for storing recyclable items or what you are prepared to purchase. Because recycling businesses prefer items sorted and deposited in the correct manner to make their life easier, items will need to be separated. This involves keeping cardboard, tins/cans, glass, paper and plastic items separated. Paper requires sorting into white paper and coloured paper, while plastic items can be divided into seven or more different categories. Its best that you familiarise yourself with items that can and cannot be recycled by your chosen drop-off point recycling centre.
Choosing where to place your recycling in your house is also important as you will find it tends to accumulate pretty quickly and can get in the way. Find somewhere out of the way, perhaps in the corner of a garage, a garden shed or an unused cupboard. Storing different items in a designated containers is also essential. Cardboard boxes are convenient means of storage, but normally have a limited lifespan before they end up being recycled themselves. Investing in a recycling bin can also be helpful. Ensure that whatever you purchase is sturdy but still mobile enough to transport in your car. These bins can be purchased from some recycling companies or stores like Builders Warehouse at reasonable prices. Their products vary in price from R500 to R2 500 depending on materials used in the production process as well as the size of the bin.
6. Should I consider starting a compost heap in the garden?
People living in flats, town houses and complexes may find it difficult to compost their food waste. Residents normally have to toe the line and follow rules and regulations laid down by Body Corporates. For other individuals composting should be a serious option.
Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The mixture is rich in nutrients and beneficial organisms. Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, reducing dependency on harmful chemical fertilizers. It makes plants grow better.
Composting can take various forms. Find a system which works for you. Foamy and Temu offer a wide range of different bins and systems which you can select. These bin systems can range from R230 to R2 999. For the gardeners it means that purchasing compost will be a thing of the past and your fertilising expenses will be drastically cut.
Next time you throw items in your recycling bin, please:
flatten boxes before recycling them, unless you are using them to store, transport and deposit your recycling
remove all food and liquid from containers
check that you are placing it in the correct bin
When we dispose of our waste correctly, we:
divert waste from landfill
increase the amount of recyclable material made into new products
less pressure on the environment, including less greenhouse gas emissions
a boost to the circular economy, including job creation
To summarise, recycling is no longer just a chore, it's a collective responsibility for safeguarding our planet.
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