How To Start Your Recycling Journey
One of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact is to recycle what you use. When you recycle, you transform old materials into something new, reducing the number of raw materials needed during the manufacturing process.
And getting started with recycling isn't difficult either, and you can do it at home, at work, or on the go. Take 10 minutes out of your day to read this article if you're new to recycling or want to improve your recycling habits.
In this blog post, I'll show you how to start recycling, including the benefits of recycling, how to join a recycling program or use a recycling drop-off center, as well as valuable tips and tricks for successful recycling.
Table Of Contents
- The Benefits Of Recycling
- Join A Recycling Program
- Use Recycling Drop-Off Center
- Doing Both At The Same Time
- Quick Takeaway
- FAQs
The Benefits Of Recycling
Before you dive into your recycling journey, it's important to understand why it's worth your effort. So here are some straightforward benefits of recycling:
- Conserves Natural Resources: Recycling helps to conserve natural resources by reducing the need to extract new materials from the earth.
- Reduces Pollution: Recycling helps to reduce pollution by keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators. Landfills produce methane, while incinerators release harmful stuff into the air.
- Saves Energy: Recycling requires less energy than manufacturing products from virgin materials. This helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
Fun Fact: According to the Florida Institute of Technology, each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution.
Summary: Recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy. It conserves natural resources, minimizes pollution, and reduces energy consumption. By recycling, you can help decrease the amount of waste in landfills and oceans, ultimately leading to a cleaner and healthier environment.
Join A Recycling Program
Begin by finding out what recycling programs are available in your area and join them. Your local government typically offers a range of recycling programs to support you on your recycling journey, so take advantage of these resources.
If you are not aware of any recycling program available to you, simply give your local city waste management a call or visit your local government's website to see what you can do to get started.
Once you've joined a recycling program, they'll provide you with pickup schedules for collection days and a recycling bin to participate in. You can use this list of common recyclable materials made by Ecopify as a guideline to ensure you're recycling the right materials.
Tip: To recycle at home, set up your recycling bins next to your indoor trash cans. That way, every time you are about to throw something in the trash, you can sort it. Should it go in the recycling bin or the trash can?
Summary: The first step I recommend you do when starting your recycling journey is to join your city's curbside recycling program. This program will come to pick up your recyclables at your home once or twice a week, making it easy and convenient for you to recycle.
Use Recycling Drop-Off Center
Drop-Off Center is your way to go if you don't want to sign up for a recycling program. You can simply discover these Drop-Off centers through a quick online search on your phone.
Generally speaking, you can bring most if not all of your recyclable items to these drop-off centers. They accept a variety of recyclable materials, including paper, plastic, metal, glass, and electronics. Pretty much the same, if not more than a recycling program can offer.
Another cool thing about using a recycling Drop-Off Center is you can also recycle your old electronic devices, so don't be shy to use them. And remember to encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to use recycling drop-off centers as well.
Tip: Don't put your recyclables in plastic bags. Most recycling facilities can't handle them and won't accept them.
Summary: If curbside services are not available in your area or you don't want to sign up for a recycling program, then a public drop-off area is here for you. Most cities have many locations throughout the area that accept recyclables free of charge.
Doing Both At The Same Time
I mean not just both, but more. Most of the time, your local curbside program is not going to accept all plastic items. For example, I know that most programs do not accept plastic grocery bags, so you have to take them to your local retail stores, where they collect plastic grocery bags for recycling.
Not just grocery bags, but most recycling programs don't accept E-waste, but your nearby Drop-Off center has an e-waste recycling bin where you can recycle your old electronic devices.
Reusing or donating your stuff to a local goodwill can also helps reduce the number of materials that would otherwise end up in local landfills. Also, tell your friend to start their recycling journey. Tell them how easy it was, educate them on how to get started, and get them to commit to recycling.
Fun Fact: Recycling also helps create jobs. A study in 2016 found that recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 757,000 jobs.
Summary: Doing more means you're helping more. Recycling conserves resources, saves energy, reduce landfill, and helps protect our environment. It also creates more jobs for people. So please stay on the right path and help create a better planet!
Quick Takeaway
Recycling not only conserves natural resources, reduces pollution, and saves energy, but also creates jobs for thousands of people around the world. If you are interested in starting your recycling journey, here are some steps to take:
- Join Your Local Recycling Program: These programs make your recycling journey a lot easier by providing you a recycling bin, and come to pick up your recyclables at your home once or twice a week.
- Use Recycling Drop-Off Center: For those without access to curbside recycling programs or prefer drop-off centers. They accept a wide range of recyclable materials, including electronic devices.
- Find Other Ways To Recycle: If your local recycling program does not accept certain materials, find other ways to recycle them. For example, you can donate them to a charity that needs them.
As always, this information is intended to encourage recycling and assist those wishing to recycle. Check with your local recycling program for the most accurate information, and if you have any questionable items that need to be recycled, use this search to find a local recycler.
Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog:
Question #1: What is the best way to start recycling?
Answer: The best way to start recycling is to find out what items are recyclable in your area. Once you know what items are recyclable, you can then start collecting them in your recycling bin.
Question #2: How can I reduce my waste even more?
Answer: You can also start looking for ways to reduce your plastic waste like bringing your own reusable bags to the grocery store, repairing items instead of replacing them, and most importantly, avoiding single-use items.
Question #3: What are some resources that can help me learn more about recycling?
Answer: The EPA's Recycling Guide, Earth911's Recycling Center, and Recycling.com are properly some of the best resources that can help you learn more about recycling.