5 ways to get better at recycling at home

When you hear the word ‘recycling’, images of large bins and crushed plastic bottles likely come to mind. However, recycling is more than just about reducing waste. In its essence, recycling serves as a source of creativity and a means for us to prosper along with nature. Once you’ve taken the first crucial step of deciding to adopt recycling as a lifestyle, it is essential to keep the momentum going by extending the philosophy to all aspects of daily life. If you are looking to make recycling a part of your everyday life, here’s how you can get started today:

Don’t overlook the small stuff

Unfortunately, the smallest items can cause the biggest impact on the environment. Bottle caps, disposable straws and cutlery are often overlooked when it comes to traditional recycling, however, these have the maximum potential to wreak havoc. Bottlecaps are constructed from a sturdier material than disposable water bottles, and they can often jam the processing machine. 

Since these smaller items can slip through the gaps of the conventional waste segregation system, they can often find their way to water bodies. 

Knowledge is power

The most important step to recycling efficiently is knowing what can and cannot be recycled. For instance, when pizza boxes covered with cheese and grease are sent into recycling, they can end up contaminating the entire bin. It is essential to read up about everyday items that you use and find out which combined materials don’t work together. Here’s an example: Since bubble wrap cannot be separated from paper envelopes, it becomes a non-recyclable item.  

Squash it down

This no-cost method is ideal for maximising your recycling efforts: By simply squashing down boxes and recyclable paper packaging, you will be able to ensure that you can fit more into each recycling bin. This consumes one-third of the space and, in turn, will require lesser lorries on the road to make trips back and forth from recycling centres. Win-win for everyone! 

Recycle your water 

No, material goods aren’t the only ones that can be recycled. Given the ever-escalating scarcity of water, you can contribute towards conservation efforts by recycling the water from the bathtub to be used for the toilet flush with some plumbing adjustments. Likewise, the water used to wash vegetables can be used to water plants in your home garden.

Recycle your electronics 

Likewise, it pays to train a critical eye on your devices and gadgets before throwing them out. Disposable batteries have long served as the bane of recycling, as they can leach harmful metals into a landfill and contaminate the groundwater supply. The same applies to larger gadgets as well. Instead of throwing them out in the trash, contact your local repair shops who will be able to creatively use the parts for other machines.  

The road to constructing a circular economy is a long one but with every single step we take, we are closer to making it a reality!