what is recycling

The importance of recycling and how it works is gaining more and more strength, especially after considering what man is causing to the planet. Learning to reuse objects or take them to the right places can have a greater positive impact than some would think.

Recycling

Before asking yourself how to recycle, you should familiarize yourself with the basics related to reusable materials. These, basically, have properties that allow them to be purified, to be used again in different areas.

In the recycling process, a material or waste goes through several stages in which it is sought to fully or partially recover the elements that make it up, to be used either within the same area or outside of it.

The practice of recycling, therefore, has had a direct positive effect on the environment, especially after considering that practically any raw material needed to create the chair you are sitting on or the smartphone from which you are reading this article comes from the same planet Earth. Therefore, in effect, excessive exploitation brings with it results with a dire prognosis.

Benefits of recycling

Recycled objects reduce the amount of waste produced by the use or consumption of the same product. For example, bottles, containers, sheets of paper, among many other things.

Reusing this type of material, in addition to preventing the felling of trees and the production of harmful gases due to the use of altering chemicals, may have long-term effects on the care of the environment.

In this sense, “recyclable” has become a synonym of hope for a planet that seeks to extend the useful life of products and thus considerably reduce the negative effects of human progress and development.

types of recycling

Although recycling is classified as a process of various phases, it is also necessary to mention that it is of different types, mainly if the type of material to be treated is taken into account. Consequently, below, we will review some of the most well-known and practical types of recycling that you can consider, if you want to give the planet a hand:

Paper

Among recyclable materials, paper is one of those with the greatest presence in companies responsible for recycled products. Although it is classified as biodegradable, the amount that is used daily makes it unfeasible to allow it to destroy itself. In addition, recycling methods for paper prevent the raw material from being obtained from its natural origin: trees.

Plastic

Recycled plastic is becoming one of the most widely used primary materials in various important industries, such as soft drink fillers, container manufacturers, etc.

Recycling plastic is simple, but important, as it is a non-biodegradable material that could take centuries to break down. In this sense, recyclable plastics are a more than beneficial option for the planet.

Aluminum

This metallic element is one of the most recycled materials, mainly because the process is quite simple. Basically, you take the aluminum and melt it down, to create new sheets that are purified and suitable for all kinds of uses.

Glass

Knowing how glass is recycled can invite you to do it constantly, since this material can be used many times, thanks to its resistance to heat to be sterilized and create new recyclable containers. Otherwise, a simple glass bottle could take up to 4,000 years to completely disintegrate.

batteries

Rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries must be carefully managed when disposing of them, since they are an important source of pollution to the environment, considering that they contain elements such as heavy metals, acid and other toxic compounds.

Organic

Recycling garbage is a method that you can carry out from home and without many inconveniences, taking advantage of the remains left over from dinner or its preparation. This is considered organic recycling, since it includes waste material of natural origin, whether for human consumption or not.

Medicines

On the other hand, one of the ways to recycle medicines and medical supplies such as expired pills that you forgot in the drawer, garlic capsules that you took to control cholesterol or expired bandages, is to take them to special collection points.

In Spain, in particular, there is the Integrated Packaging Management and Collection System or SIGRE, for its acronym. This entity works together with pharmaceutical companies, laboratories and pharmacies, to manage and use expired medications that come from homes throughout the country.

In this way, the environmental pollution that could be generated by the decomposition of chemical elements in landfills is reduced.

recycle from home

How to recycle at home is one of the questions that many users ask themselves, in order to contribute their grain of sand in caring for the planet. If it has piqued your interest, here are a couple of tips to get you started:

Use of containers

Using color-coded rubbish bins to help you recycle is also an invitation to the entities that are responsible for collecting this type of waste. Remember that everyone must have their respective lid and security measures, so that they cannot be opened by children or animals.

waste separation

This action goes hand in hand with the garbage cans, since you will have to separate your waste according to the categories that you have available in the recycling containers. These can range from metals to plastics, paper and organic waste, which must not be mixed, to guarantee that they will comply with all phases of approval for reuse.

collection points

One of the simplest ways to recycle, and that does not require you to buy containers, is to take your waste to special collection points. This is usually reserved for particular materials and you should find out about the entities in charge in your region, so you know where to go and what you can take.