Choices! What will it be? #14 - RECYCLE

Hi Ladies,

how are you? This time my choice is RECYCLE.

Pixabay

Recycling is important to reduce our impact on the environment, keep it clean, save energy and materials. It is something that has an impact on our domestic economy and our money, and by extension also on our entire territory and the planet.

Recycling waste is an action that can be done in several ways, the most important being

• the reuse of objects and the lengthening of their life cycle
• the transformation of objects or part of them into something else
• separate collection

1 – Reuse and fix

With the reuse of the same object we offer it a longer life. This can be done for example by buying used items, such as cars. But it is also important for small objects such as books, clothes that no longer fit children, bicycles and many other commonly used objects.

We can give them away, resell them, or have them given to us or buy them used.

Furthermore, in our own home, we can choose to use an object for as long as possible, and fix it when necessary. This also includes items of clothing that with some modifications can become other items, small appliances that can be repaired and many other things.

2 - Upcycling - transforming objects

Source

The same object can become something else. For example, I reuse old jeans to make furniture cushions, old blankets to make cats' beds (with the help of my mother who knows how to sew).

I never throw away glass jars because I decorate and paint them, they become small vases for flowers or pen holders. Furthermore, when they still have the lid that works, I use them as containers to store food in the fridge or freezer, because glass is more hygienic than plastic and can be washed more easily.

Everyone in their home can transform old objects and give them a new life according to their preferences and needs!

3 – Separate collection

Source

Separate waste collection requires the collaboration of citizens and public administrations. In my country, separate collection has been mandatory for years (it worked as optional for some years... but clearly acceptable levels were not reached). Today Italy recycles between 60 and 70% of waste. Source

It is a very good result, but I remember the first glass collections in the 80s so it was a long journey....

The separate collection includes household waste, industrial waste and packaging.
Waste is separated according to materials, the most important being plastic, paper, glass, steel and aluminium. This waste goes to companies that use it as raw material to produce other objects.

Among the easiest materials to recycle we find aluminum which produces little waste and can be recycled almost indefinitely. It is estimated that 75% of aluminum products, including commonly used packaging such as cans and tins, are made from recycled aluminium. Recycling aluminum instead of producing it saves 95% of energy Source

Recycling plastic allows energy savings of 42% and the recovery of storage spaces. The amount of plastic recycled and put back on the market in 2021 saved a space 36 times the volume of the Colosseum. Source

How is separate collection done?

Source

The municipality provides bins, each of which is intended for a type of waste.
Depending on the municipality of residence, the rules may be different because the destination of the waste in the plants will be different.

In my municipality we recycle like this:

• clear bag: all plastic and styrofoam
• gray bin: aluminum and glass cans
• brown bin: organic waste and food remains
• green bin: paper, cardboard and tetrapak
• black bag: objects and remains that do not fall under the previous cases

Every day of the week is dedicated to a bin. The bin is put outside the house and early in the morning they come to pick it up.

Electronic waste, household appliances or the remains of masonry work, or large objects must be brought personally to a collection point.

Furthermore, a general rule applies that waste must occupy as little space as possible. For example, empty plastic bottles must be crushed to be placed in the bag. The same goes for cardboard boxes that need to be flattened.

This saves space at home, but also allows the collection truck to go further and pick up more waste in one trip! This saves time and fuel.

Things haven't always been simple, changing habits is difficult and finding yourself with garbage inside the house, especially if the house is small, isn't easy and you have to reorganize everything. Furthermore, a simple gesture such as throwing something in the trash is no longer possible and everyone, including children, must be taught the rules.

Also, if you do not respect separate waste collection, you will pay a fine! Better not!

***

Thank you for reading!

I invite @soy-anahel @rankari6 to join the contest.