The ABCs Of Recycling.....(for Dummies)

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Recycling refers to the process of collecting used materials which is usually considered as ‘waste’ and reprocessing them. In this process, these used materials are sorted and processed to be used as ‘raw materials’ for the production of new products. Recycling varies from ‘reuse’ in the sense that while reuse just means using old products repeatedly, recycling means using the core elements of an old product as raw materials to manufacture new products.

Process of Recycling

The recycling process involves three stages. In the first stage, the old products are collected and processed, where they are sorted, cleaned and made ready for recycling or manufacturing new products. The second stage involves the manufacturing of new products from the raw materials obtained by the processing of the old products. Finally, the process ends with the purchasing of recycled goods by the consumers.

The more people step forward to buy recycled products the better the success of the recycling process can be ensured. Buying recycled products will only increase when every individual will develop an awareness of the difference that can be made by utilizing their old household objects as raw materials to produce new goods and help the environment by recycling.

7 Good Reasons to Recycle

­    Financial Income
­    Recycling helps conserve limited resources
­    Recycling is energy efficient
­    Recycling builds community
­    Recycling creates jobs
­    Recycling builds a strong economy
­    Recycling is earth-friendly

Recyclable Items

1.     Plastic
2.     Steel and aluminum cans
3.     Aseptic Packaging (drink boxes, soy bean containers)
4.     Car batteries
5.     Computer printers
6.     Paper
        - White office paper
        - Corrugated cardboard
        - Newspaper
        - Phone books
        - Waxed cartons
        - Mixed paper

Other Things You Can Do

- Favour products with a high recycled content, even if they cost a little more
- Reduce the volume of packaging you buy, reuse what you can’t recycle and recycle the rest
- Tell the cashier ‘I don’t need a bag’
- Use your own reusable canvas bag or backpack at the store
- Buy quality products and keep them for a lifetime