Text Us
Junk removal can be a daunting task to some, especially those who would like to improve their recycling so that they can do their part for the environment. Many people try their best to help promote environmental sustainability but fail to do so due to their busy and chaotic schedules. However, recycling can quickly become a part of your daily routine and, dare we say, your lifestyle by following some easy steps. Here, we will focus primarily on how you can improve your recycling initiatives at home so that you can reduce your carbon footprint without issue.
Follow All Three Rs
You may have heard the popular adage, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” ad nauseum on the television or on the radio, but how often have you followed all three Rs? To many people, the main focus has always been to improve their recycling, but what about reducing the consumption of certain goods and reusing certain items in order to maximize their lifespan?
That is, you can help improve the recycling process in your household by reducing your family’s consumption of certain goods that are detrimental to the environment. In addition to cutting back on certain harmful items, you should also focus on purchasing goods and obtaining services that are well designed and eco-friendly whenever possible.
Furthermore, so called waste products can also be reused in creative ways in some cases. In other words, if something is broken, your first instinct may be to chuck it into your trash bin; but why not try and fix it so that it won’t end up rotting in a landfill?
Or, if you are not the most handy person in the world or simply don’t have the time or tools to fix it, especially if it is an electronic item, then you may have the option to return it to the manufacturer. In some cases, they may issue you a full refund, give you store credit, or refurbish it and either return it to you or sell it to someone else so that it will have a new home that isn’t a landfill.
Avoid Packaged Goods
Moreover, packaged goods should be avoided whenever possible in order to cut back on your recycling. Now, you may be wondering why we would suggest that you try and reduce your recycling by avoiding packaged goods. The reason is simple: you can reduce or perhaps even eliminate the need for recycling certain items by avoiding certain goods at the supermarket.
For instance, if you are a person who buys bottled water in bulk, then you may feel that it isn’t a problem, as you can simply recycle the bottles afterwards. However, you can eliminate the need for water bottles altogether if you were to use a container that can be reused and a water filter. As can be seen, avoiding packaged goods can not only reduce the amount of waste, but also save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the long term.
Be Aware of What Can and Cannot Be Recycled
It doesn’t hurt to do your homework so that you are fully aware of what can and what cannot be recycled. Every city and municipality is different, so what may be accepted in one recycling plant may be rejected by another recycling facility. It is also highly advisable to know the difference between bona fide recycling and green-washed recycling.
That is, many corporations try and dupe their customers into thinking that they are an eco-friendly and eco-conscious enterprise when they actually have ulterior motives in play. This so called “feel-good” wishy washy recycling isn’t real recycling and should be seen as a low level form of recycling at best.
For instance, a company named Illy started a capsule recycling program in order to recycle the disposal coffee pods that they made. However, what many of their customers and shareholders were not aware of was that their pods were actually being shipped to another distant part of the country, which ended up generating large quantities of harmful carbon emissions in the process.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the capsules themselves were being downcycled to the lowest conceivable level, which not only watered down the recycling process, but essentially defeated the purpose of recycling in the first place.
Hence, if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is. So take the time to perform the necessary due diligence to ensure that the products you buy for your home will be recycled at the highest level possible, and also research how and where your favourite companies recycle their products.
Purchase Recycled Goods
Recycling doesn’t work unless a cyclical process is involved, whereby items are continually reused by consumers so that no new waste is being generated and no natural resources or other such materials are used or extracted in order to manufacture new products. Today, you can choose to purchase products that have been 100% recycled, such as office chairs and printer paper.
In addition, you should know the difference between a product that is recycled and a product that is recyclable. That is, a company may claim that their products are made with recyclable materials, but the actual amount may be very small. As such, the recycling loop fails to be closed, which perpetuates the waste issue that is impacting the global ecosystem.
Learn How to Recycle Your Water
In regards to water, why not use your dishwashing water or your leftover bathwater to water your plants, assuming you have a garden, and that you are using soap that is biodegradable. You can even reconfigure your irrigation and plumbing system so that the wastewater from your tub or shower, or even exterior rainwater, can be redistributed in order to flush your toilet.
For more tips on how to improve your recycling, or to procure our eco-friendly junk removal and recycling services, please visit Junk Works at our website or give us a call at 1-888-888-JUNK.
Source:
https://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-recycling.html
