Top 8 Items to Recycle to Save the Environment

"The recycling rate in the US currently stands at 66% for paper and cardboard, 27% for glass, and 8% for plastics"



Disposable waste is highly harmful to the environment. The majority of the products purchased come with packaging and materials that end up in landfills or, in the worst-case scenario, in the ocean. Over-reliance on recycling can lead to people living in more minor sustainable ways even though the primary goal of recycling is to reduce or eliminate waste.

Despite this issue, recycling has numerous environmental advantages. Teaching people which items are recyclable is sometimes all that is required. 

8 Things To Recycle To Benefit & Save the Planet

This blog explains how recycling the following materials can have significant environmental benefits:

1. Plastic

Plastic waste is harmful to the environment since it takes a long time to decompose. Even when it does, it produces micro-plastics, which can easily find their way into places where they shouldn't be.



HDPE and PET are the most commonly recycled plastics, while the others are more difficult to recycle.

2. Paper

Although paper waste isn't as harmful to the environment as plastic, the advantages of recycling paper are well worth the effort. People can use outdoor recycling bins at home to recycle books, newspapers, and even glossy magazines.

3. Glass

Sand is used for glass making. Although it may appear redundant, the world is running out of sand. The purpose of recycling is to help the environment by reducing resource consumption. Therefore, the sand can be conserved by recycling glass. Sand is among the most accessible materials to recycle.

4. Electronics

Most electronic waste contains recyclable materials that can harm the environment if disposed of in a landfill. As a result, they must be recycled.

5. Metals

Metal is used in the making of different products. Metal must be mined from the earth, which harms the area and environment in the mines. 

Metals can be recycled together in recycling plants because they are separated from the other recycling products. If necessary, some local businesses can also recycle scrap metal.

6. Organic Materials

Organic waste is beneficial to the environment and rarely causes harm. Composting necessitates the use of an organic waste bin as well as time. We can then use the compost for planting, gardening, etc.

7. Tires

It's challenging to recycle car tires and other commercial rubber materials found in a variety of products. Even when adequately discarded, most rubber products are burned. The tire can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner at a recycling facility.

8. Clothes

Textile recycling is less common than one might expect, which is unfortunate for the environment because it takes hundreds of years for textiles to degrade. Donating or selling them to thrift stores is the only way to avoid this.

Takeaway

When 90% of the above mentioned items are recycled, they benefit the environment, but some research is required to properly dispose of the recycling materials. For example, one of the best things to recycle is paper, but it can't be recycled if it's wet.

TVG Waste Consulting provides proactive environmental consulting services. We're dedicated to saving you time, money, and making sure you have a custom solution to meet your needs. Contact us today!