7.7 billion. That’s the current world population, well a bit more than that. With so many people on the planet, Mother Nature is now finding it a bit difficult to meet the demands of the modern world. As a responsible citizen of this lovely planet, you must be concerned and take part in ensuring that the earth doesn’t self-destruct due to being overexploited.
This is where recycling comes in. Recycling means repurposing a product or converting the material used in making it, into another new artifact. And yes, it does go a long way in helping the environment.
“What can I recycle?” is a question asked by many people who want to take part in ensuring the planet is well taken care of. If you’ve been wondering the same thing, you’re definitely in the right place.
IMAGE: PEXELS
What Can I Recycle – 5 Important Substance Types
Not everything can be recycled, but there are a lot of everyday materials that can be. Let’s quickly look at some of the most important types of substances that you should recycle.
1. Paper
Although society is heading into a paperless era, paper still makes up one of the most used substances on earth. It is used in several domestic and industrial applications, making it a very versatile material.
One main reason why it’s important to recycle paper is its source – trees. Trees are the lungs of the planet and lumbering for paper (and other uses) is fast leading to deforestation. As a result, soil erosion will increase, as will the incidence of greenhouse gases.
2. Plastic
Another substance causing a lot of damage to the environment and to wildlife is plastic. Studies show that 14 billion plastic bags are used in America alone each year. A significant percentage of them end up polluting the environment, and most notably, the ocean.
While not all types of plastic are easy to recycle (like Polystyrene), most plastics are recyclable and should be.
3. Aluminum
Over 100 billion aluminum cans are manufactured annually. That’s a lot of aluminum (and energy) used. Fortunately, aluminum is easy to recycle and convert into many other products. In fact, the energy used to manufacture one aluminum can is the same energy that is used to develop 20 recycled cans. That’s a considerable energy saving if people take the recycling route.
4. Batteries
Batteries can be very harmful to your health and the environment if not disposed of correctly. The good news is that batteries are 100% recyclable. However, because of their toxic nature, they need proper handling, so be sure to get a professional trash removal service to help you.
5. Electronics
The last decade has seen a boom in the electronics industry. Unfortunately, that boom has also lead to an escalating issue commonly referred to as e-waste. E-waste, or electronic waste, is a rich source of raw materials but also severe health and environmental hazard. For this reason, it’s important that you recycle all electronics instead of just discarding them.
Recycle As Much As You Can To Help The Environment
Want to make a significant contribution to helping the environment? Join the recycling movement. One of the easiest ways is to partner with a trash removal service that can help take the trash off your hands. Go ahead and give us a shout, we’re always happy to be of service.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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