What is recycling
Recycle is subjecting a used material or waste to a process in which it is recovered, in whole or in partthe raw materials or components that were used for its production, so that they can be used again.
When recycling we take advantage of the waste we produce, by reusing them, transforming them into new products, or giving them a new use. For example, when plastic bags are recycled to make trash cans or park benches.
Recycling is a sustainable alternative to consumerism. By reducing the extraction of new raw materials, the use of energy for the production of new products is reduced. This is reflected in economic and environmental benefits. When recycled, environmental and water pollution is reduced. In addition, energy and natural resources are conserved.
For example, primary production of aluminum is more expensive than production from recycled aluminum into energy resources. Furthermore, primary production produces thirteen times more carbon dioxide than secondary production.
One way to collaborate with recycling is to separate the waste at home and then place it in the containers provided for this purpose, and identified and differentiated according to the type of waste received.
Recyclable materials
Paper and cardboard recycling has grown in recent decades, being the main recycled material in homes.
Some materials that we can recycle are:
Glass: from vehicle glass, jars, glasses, and bottles can be recycled.
Paper: More than half of the world’s paper production comes from recycled paper pulp.
Metal: like lead from batteries, copper from electrical cables and aluminum from cans.
Plastic: Recycling plastics is preferable to disposing of them in landfills or throwing them away as trash.
Fabrics: textiles are practically 100% recyclable.
Electronic components: Equipment such as washing machines, microwaves, dryers, car dashboards, toasters, among others, can be recovered to recycle the electronic components.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Reduce, reuse and recycle It is a treatment strategy for waste. Its main purpose is to reduce waste production through responsible consumption habits. It is also known as the 3R rule.
This strategy is developed in three stages:
Reduce:the production of objects that, after being used, must be discarded;
Re-use the products so that they can be used for the same or a different purpose, and
Recycle waste to be used again for the production of new products.
See also Recycling, Reduce and the 3 Rs Rule (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
References
Bureau of International Recycling (2021) Paper and Board Recycling 2019.
Bureau of International Recycling (2015) Report on the Environmental Benefits of Recycling-2016 edition.
Worrel, E., Reuter, MA (2014) Handbook of recycling: state-of-the-art for practitioners, analysts, and scientists. Elsevier. Amsterdam.