There are plenty of things you can do to help keep the environment clean and free from poisons and toxins that affect the world we live in. Why not start off by setting up some simple strategies for a recycling program at home? You'll not only be making the earth a better place for your children in the future, it's also a very effective way of teaching the next generation all about recycling and making more sustainable use of the waste that is produced.
Your local council should already be doing their bit by providing specific bins for certain products. You are probably already familiar with the large coloured containers to be found at supermarkets and other strategic locations where everyone can throw their empty plastic bottles, glass jars, unwanted clothes and shoes, and newspapers.
Many councils now also provide recycling bins for residents so each household is responsible for sorting out their trash, items they might normally have thrown in the one bin now have to be placed in the correct container and placed outside on a specific day to be collected, whereupon they will be taken to a recycling plant.
If you do recycle your tins, cans and plastic containers, make sure you wash them out before placing them in the bins provided as this will make the sorters job at the other end much easier and promote a sanitary recycling environment. Crush cans to make more space available, fold newspapers neatly to be stacked, and take the tops off bottles. There are different types of plastic so check which goes into each particular container and try not to mix them up as this just makes the sorting process difficult to manage.
A big issue in many countries all over Europe and Asia is the use of plastic bags when shopping. Some stores have eliminated plastic bags altogether, whilst others have put a charge on them to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags, or better still introduced recyclable bags for their customers. Changing your bag habits can save natural resources and promote energy conservation.
Many people still don't realize they can recycle their old mobile phones! Mobiles contain a number of toxic substances so throwing them into landfills is not a safe option. There are companies that will buy your unused mobiles from you. There are also local drop off points for e waste, such as mobile phones, electronic equipment like dated computers, printer cartridges, and batteries. Particularly dangerous, batteries contain hazardous chemicals and substances that can leach into groundwater if not disposed of properly. Look online for your nearest drop-off location or give your council a call for more information on what you can do to help your local environment stay clean.
There are so many products that can be recycled these days it's worth finding out for yourself. Online you'll find heaps of information, for a start did you realize you can recycle your old carpets? The carpet industry has initiated recycling programs to help with the problem of how to dispose of used carpets safely; reclamation centers will come and collect your old carpet, clean them up and put them to good use elsewhere.
When buying products try to check if it can be recycled, or if any effort is made by the company or manufacturer to produce products that are eco-friendly. If the company is forward thinking they will be focusing on increasing their energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of their venture.
In Australia there are major efforts being made to raise the public's awareness of recycling as it has one of the highest waste levels per person than any other country. Even as more and more people make an effort recycling for the home, there remains an ever growing pile of trash that ends up in landfills and there is always room for improvement. We all have to do our bit and there's no better place to start then home. Check out waste management services for more information.